New Orleans, LA -- Xavierites past and present are gearing up for the annual Homecoming celebration, which begins Wednesday, November 3, and runs through Sunday, November 7. The XULA community will enjoy a variety of in-person programs and virtual events focused on celebrating students and graduates of Xavier, honoring Saint Katharine Drexel, and recognizing Xavier’s success. Generous sponsors Gilead Sciences, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Pernod Ricard have made the celebration possible. 

“Homecoming is important for our community. It’s a time when we can all come together to celebrate our success and reconnect with our XULA family,” said Phillip D. Adams, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Xavier University of Louisiana. “We are appreciative of the support of our sponsors and the variety of ways they help Xavier University to host events that are meaningful to our esteemed alumni. Their invaluable, constant support and commitment to the university are the reasons our Xavierites can continue to strive for excellence.” 

Thermo Fisher Scientific is the corporate sponsor for the 2021 Gold Table Talk, Career Exploration Events & Tailgate during the 2021 Homecoming experience. The biotechnology provisioner also supported a COVID-19 testing hub at Xavier to ensure a safe return to campus and extended its partnership with the University in 2020. 

Gilead Sciences, Inc., the platinum sponsor for this year’s Homecoming celebration, has been instrumental in partnering and providing financial investments for Xavier University initiatives, including the Center for Equity, Justice and the Human Spirit’s recent Inaugural Pride "Gayla," which celebrated students, faculty and staff who are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Pernod Ricard, a global leader in wine and spirits, will sponsor this year’s VIP Tailgate and Mixology events. The company has a unique portfolio of premium brands encompassing major categories of wine and spirits.  It partnered with Xavier University to provide support for various projects. Pernod Ricard’s mission is to turn every social interaction into a genuine, friendly, and responsible experience of sharing. 

“XULA Homecoming will be filled with unique experiences and special memories for our Xavierites; thank you to our sponsors,” said Adams. 

For more information about the Xavier University Homecoming celebration and schedule of events, visit https://www.xula.edu/homecoming/. 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of approximately $35 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 90,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon.

Visit jobs.thermofisher.com to learn about open opportunities at Thermo Fisher.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

For more information about Gilead, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com, follow Gilead on Twitter (@Gilead Sciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-3000.

About Xavier University of Louisiana

Being America’s only historically Black and Catholic University is only the first among many distinctions that have set Xavier University of Louisiana apart for more than nine decades. Despite its relatively small size (3,300 students), Xavier is a nationally recognized leader in the STEM and the health sciences, producing more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in the United States. Its College of Pharmacy is among the top producers of African American pharmacists.

Its liberal arts-based programs in such areas as art, business, education, psychology, and political science – as well as recent additions in bioinformatics, data science, neuroscience, crime and social justice, and jazz studies – offer students an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities, and life experiences. The winning Xavier formula provides students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls.

For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana, visit us online at www.xula.edu or follow us on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter @XULA1925. To book interviews and/or to speak with our experts in the field of pharmacy, education, premed, public health, science, technology, math, business, English, communications, and the arts, contact Chelsea Cunningham at (504) 520-5425 or ccunnin5@xula.edu.

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