Ourso Hall of Distinction Welcomes Newest Honorees

In October, we were pleased to celebrate the newest members of the E. J. Ourso College of Business Hall of Distinction and the 2025 Outstanding Young Alum award winner. Bringing unique perspectives and experiences, these honorees earned a place in the Hall of Distinction through their achievements and service. Their names are now proudly displayed in the Distinguished Leaders Lecture Hall in the Business Education Complex, serving as a source of inspiration and encouragement to current students.

Join us once again in congratulating our honorees.

Outstanding Young Alum:

– Laust Helmig, CFA (BS Economics '11)

Hall of Distinction inductees:

– Kurt Ainsworth (BS General Business '04)

– Patrick M. Evans (BS International Trade & Finance '93)

– Stephen Toups (BS Finance '88 and MBA '90)

Watch their speeches here.

Last Chance to Register for the PSI Golf Tournament

When is golf more than a game? When it allows potential employers to connect with LSU sales students! Network with other professionals and prospective employees during the annual Professional Sales Institute Golf Tournament.

Participation in the tournament includes three hours of gameplay, lunch, beverages, prizes, and interaction with the Professional Sales Concentration students.

Thursday, November 20, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Top Golf Baton Rouge

Register for the tournament here.

Flores MBA Students Volunteer with Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank

Flores MBA students ventured outside of the classroom to build closer ties with the Baton Rouge community, volunteering with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank at the end of October. Beyond helping to pack boxes and prepare grocery deliveries, the students got an up-close look at the massive logistical challenge of distributing food across the 11 parishes served by the food bank.

More Than Just Bad Service

Have you ever felt like you're being watched too closely in a store? Or received service so poor you suspected it was personal? For the LSU Department of Marketing's Kris Lindsey Hall and her colleagues, a travel nightmare involving canceled flights and unequal treatment sparked a groundbreaking research study into a phenomenon many have felt but few could define.

Their work, published in the Journal of Service Research, introduces "Profiling as a Service Failure" (PaSF) and explores not just profiling incidents themselves, but the anxiety and "pre-coping" behaviors customers adopt when faced with them.

Discover the full story and key lessons learned.

Collaboration Drives Discovery & Wins

A cooperative spirit is driving award-winning research at the Ourso College, where recent projects co-authored by faculty and doctoral students together have earned top honors at major international academic conferences.

These successes span diverse departments, highlighting how bringing different perspectives to complex challenges yields powerful results.

Learn more about how Ourso faculty and PhD students work together.

Business Tigers On-the-Geaux

Ourso alumni: we'll be visiting two more cities this month. Join us to reconnect with colleagues during an evening of professional networking and hear from Dean Russell Crook as he shares details of the college’s recent research, teaching, student retention, recruiting and growth initiatives.

Appetizers and beverages will be served. Advance registration is required; registration is complimentary for current members of the E. J. Ourso College of Business Alumni Chapter, Dean's Circle Members, and DAC Members. The cost for all other alumni is $20. Complimentary groups may use code MEMBER when registering; your membership will be verified.