New Orleans, La. - Xavier University of Louisiana has announced two new appointments. Dr. Shearon Roberts, Assistant Professor of Mass Communication at Xavier, will take on the role of Xavier Exponential Director this summer and Dr. Anderson Sunda-Meya, a Norwood Endowed Professor of Physics, will take on a new role as Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Sunda-Meya is a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Engineering. Dr. Sunda-Meya has expressed his excitement in joining the Dean’s office to contribute to the continuation of Xavier’s legacy of success despite any obstacles.

“I look forward to working with the faculty, students, and staff to further build on the College of Arts and Sciences’ many achievements,” said Dr. Sunda-Meya.

In his new role, Dr. Sunda-Meya sees an opportunity to support the University’s overall mission to promote a more just and humane society by molding the leaders of tomorrow. As the Associate Dean, Dr. Sunda-Meya will promote the vision put forth by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Dean, which includes the integration of inquiry in the search for a more comprehensive truth.

The College of Arts and Sciences encompasses six divisions- Biological and Applied Health Sciences, Business, Education and Counseling, Fine Arts and Humanities, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. In addition to his position as the Associate Dean, Dr. Sunda-Meya, who has been part of the Xavier faculty for 13 years, will also continue as the Director of the Dual Degree Engineering Program.

Dr. Shearon Roberts, a faculty member of the Department of Mass Communications since 2014, hopes to continue to build on the strong foundation of the Xavier Exponential program in her new role. Xavier Exponential is an honors program designed to help high-performing and high-achieving students “power up” their Xavier experience through interdisciplinary, collaborative, and innovative approaches to learning that also affect positive social change. The program engages in three points of development: Enhanced Leadership, Global Engagement, and Career Preparation.

“The opportunity to expand this through other programs at Xavier allows me to mentor more students beyond those who take my courses,” said Dr. Roberts. “I hope to be able to reach more students through the program and help them the best way that I can to achieve excellence.”

As she takes on the Director role for Xavier Exponential, Dr. Roberts will challenge students to imagine themselves as leaders who can impact their communities both in a local sense and in the global community. A former honors student herself, Dr. Roberts’ goal is to “create an experience that offers Xavier students challenges that enhance career readiness and stimulate intellectual discussion while also providing strengthened bonds with their peers and community.”