Marcelle Fontenot, a veteran broadcast journalist and chief communications officer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, will bring a familiar voice — and face — to a new role as host of the La Louisiane Podcast.
The podcast will relaunch Monday, Oct. 5, with Fontenot sitting down with Dr. Andy Benoit, UL Lafayette’s vice president for Student Success. New episodes will feature conversations with the people whose work, ideas and experiences help tell the story of the University and the communities it serves.
“It’s been a few months since I’ve been on the air. I’m coming back — in a different space and continuing to tell stories that make South Louisiana so special,” Fontenot said in a video announcement. “We’ll bring you the voices and stories of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, highlighting the noteworthy, unexpected, spirit and creativity happening here.”
Fontenot joined the University as chief communications officer in April. She leads the Office of Communications & Marketing and oversees UL Lafayette’s strategic communications, media relations, marketing, licensing, brand stewardship, digital engagement and storytelling.
An Opelousas native, Fontenot spent more than 20 years as a broadcast journalist in Acadiana before joining the University. Her work has earned numerous professional and community honors, including Associated Press awards for investigative and community affairs reporting.
The podcast is part of La Louisiane, the University’s award-winning storytelling platform. La Louisiane has chronicled the people, research, ideas and culture connected to UL Lafayette since the magazine’s launch in 1989. Its storytelling now extends across print, digital, podcast, email, radio and social media platforms.
Kade Parker, multimedia storyteller in the Office of Communications & Marketing, produces the podcast in coordination with KRVS 88.7 FM, UL Lafayette’s public radio affiliate.
Episodes will air on KRVS and will be available on YouTube and through the University’s social media platforms. Episodes of the podcast can be viewed here.