About the Office of Global Engagement

Goals of OGE

OGE Staff

Chris Lavan, Director for Global Engagement

Chris Lavan joined the Centenary College staff in the Fall of 2008 as the Director of Service-Learning. Since then he has helped to grow and develop many of Centenary's experiential learning opportunities, including service-learning and community engagement, international education and study abroad as well as supporting diversity and multicultural programming. He is a graduate of Centenary College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in English and is also an alum of Louisiana State University where he graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Higher Education Administration. Prior to returning to Centenary, Chris worked as a graduate assistant and programming coordinator for the LSU Student Union and as a Research Associate for the LSU Community University Partnership.

As a member of the Shreveport community, Chris has made service to the community a priority in his personal life. Currently, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Louisiana Interfaith Pharmacy and has previously served as a member of Board of Directors for the Robinson Film Center. In 2009, Chris was honored as one of Shreveport's "40 Under 40", an award recognizing 40 of the top young professionals under the age of 40 by the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.

Outside of his professional commitments, Chris enjoys spending time at his church, with his fraternity brothers, as well as with family and friends. He also enjoys swimming and playing golf.

LaToya Hemphill, Assistant Director for Community Engagement

LaToya Hemphill joined the Centenary College staff in the Fall of 2010 as the Assistant Director of Community. Since coming to Centenary she has assisted in the offices mission of expanding service-learning opportunities and building community relationships. As a graduate of Louisiana Tech University (Bachelor of Arts in Merchandising & Consumer Affairs, minor in Business Administration), LaToya brings experiences from the professional worlds of Public Relations, Human Resources and Higher Education.

Actively involved in the Shreveport community, LaToya serves on the Executive Board of the Young Professionals Initiative (YPI) as their Community Outreach Chair, and has previously been a member of both the Minority Business Council where she served as Secretary and the Women’s Business Council.

In her spare time, LaToya enjoys spending time with her family and friends, music, movies and cooking.

Nicole Munoz-Vern, Assistant Director for Intercultural Engagement

Nicole Munoz-Vern joined the Office of Global Engagement in August of 2011 as the Assistant Director of Intercultural Engagement. During this time Nicole has helped support our current students pursue their dreams of traveling abroad to enrich their global perspective. She has also supported our international students attending Centenary as degree-seeking students or as students in our exchange partnerships. From El Paso, Texas Nicole went to Texas A & M University where she graduated with a B.S in Agricultural Development and Leadership. With over 7 years at Texas A & M, she has worked in Admissions, Financial Aid and Student Outreach, and has a background in student life and multicultural programming as well as community outreach.

While in Texas, Nicole served at her home church in Children’s ministry, Women’s Ministry and coordinated a team for the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Walk for a Cure.

Nicole's husband works for Schlumberger which relocated them to Shreveport/Bossier City and brought her to Centenary. They have two young daughters, Taylor and Morgan that keep them busy. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys dancing, doing crafts, traveling to new places, considers herself a Zoo novice and loves being with her friends and family.