Northwestern State University recently honored Dr. Julie McDonald for a career in education that has spanned more than four decades, beginning with manual typewriters and ending in an era of advanced technology and artificial intelligence.
A native of Coushatta, McDonald first enrolled at NSU as an accounting major, determined not to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a teacher. That plan changed, and in 1979 she graduated in just three years with a double major in business and distributive education. At just 21 years old, she began teaching at Campti High School, where she spent a decade — with a short break for the birth of her child.
The next step in her career, a one-year temporary contract at NSU, soon became a lifelong commitment. Over the next 39 years, McDonald taught thousands of students, served as advisor for the college’s Future Business Leaders of America group, and worked alongside colleagues who were once her students.
Her own education continued along the way. She earned her master’s degree in education and a “30 Plus” degree — 30 hours beyond her master’s — before completing her Ph.D. in vocational education from LSU. That doctorate was achieved while working full time and raising four children, without the convenience of online courses. Instead, she commuted weekly to Baton Rouge for a year and a half and spent summers there, all with the support of her NSU family.
McDonald’s teaching motto was inspired by a plaque she first received while teaching high school: “To teach is to touch a life forever.” That plaque hung in her office for 45 years. She says some of her most meaningful moments have been hearing from former students who tell her they remember something she taught or that she made a difference in their lives.
As she retires, McDonald reflects on a career and life rooted deeply in the Natchitoches community. “It’s been a good 45 years, and I wouldn’t have done anything different. It fit my family, and NSU has been good to me,” she said.
The NSU College of Business held a reception on Aug. 11 celebrating her retirement, with past coworkers, colleagues, friends, and family honoring the legacy of a teacher who has touched generations.
