Brought To You By LSUA and Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana; Written by Amy Boraks, Adapted by Adam Lord
Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) and the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a five-year partnership to expand educational, research, and workforce development opportunities across Central Louisiana and beyond.
The agreement supports the Tribe’s long-standing mission to create pathways for economic growth and educational advancement for its more than 1,700 citizens nationwide, while furthering LSUA’s commitment to community-based collaboration and regional impact. The partnership will facilitate joint efforts to enhance access to research, workforce training, and continuing education opportunities for both traditional students and adult learners.
“Education has always been a cornerstone of our Tribe’s vision for progress, sovereignty, and innovation,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “Partnering with LSUA allows us to open more doors for our citizens and the community, ensuring that learning, leadership, and cultural pride go hand in hand.”
Under the MOU, LSUA and the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe will collaborate on projects that support workforce readiness, cultural preservation, and leadership development. The agreement also includes initiatives to provide first-generation scholarships, expand educational access for tribal citizens, and promote academic partnerships between LSUA faculty, staff, and the Tribe.
“This MOU represents a powerful commitment to progress through partnership,” said LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil, Ph.D. “Together, LSUA and the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe will continue building educational pathways that empower individuals, strengthen our communities, and preserve Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage.”
The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe has a distinguished history of advancing education through partnerships with universities across the state. The Tribe also collaborates with the LSU System on research and repatriation efforts for artifacts and ancestral remains, underscoring its dedication to both academic progress and cultural stewardship.
This new partnership reinforces LSUA’s strategic mission to align higher education with community needs, economic opportunity, and social advancement. Through shared purpose and investment, both institutions aim to cultivate a stronger, more resilient future for Central Louisiana and for generations to come.
For more information on the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana can be found at tunicabiloxi.org/.
About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near south of Marksville in east-central Louisiana. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,700 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas, and Illinois. The modern Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is composed of Tunica, Biloxi (a Siouan-speaking people from the Gulf coast), Ofo (also a Siouan people), Avoyel (a Natchezan people), and Choctaw. Although ancestry is typically intermixed through marriages, tribal members typically identify either as Tunica, Biloxi, or Biloxi-Choctaw. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort – a large employer within Central Louisiana-Mobiloans, and other enterprises. For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit tunicabiloxi.org/
Photo credit – Nathan Parish | LSUA Strategic Communications
