A few football seasons ago, after years of losing, the Saints suddenly started to become a winning team. People back then would explain the change of fortune with a knowing look and two words – “Drew Brees.”

In Acadiana, people have recently started exchanging that same knowing look when they talk about the impressive number of new businesses starting up around here. Folks look at each other and say, “U.L.”

What they’re referring to is officially known as, “The B. I. Moody III College of Business Administration at The University of Louisiana Lafayette.”

On this show, and in conversation, so many people talk glowingly about the effect the UL business school is having on the growth and diversification of the Acadiana economy that we thought it was about time we find out what’s going on inside those business-school buildings.

Dr Gwen Fontenot is the interim Dean of the business school, a position she’s held since 2015. Dr Fontenot is in her second tour of duty at UL. She first taught at the business school from 1984 to 89. And this tour started out in 1999.

Dr. Geoffrey Stewart is the Moody College of Business Administration’s Associate Professor of Marketing. Dr Stewart has been teaching at UL since 2003. 

Andre Moreau sits in for Peter Ricchiuti on this edition of Out to Lunch that goes behind the scenes at Acadiana’s academic business engine.

Photos at Cafe Vermilionville by Gwen Aucoin.