Transdev, one of the largest public transportation contractors in the world, and Xavier University of Louisiana, one of the premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States, are excited to publicly announce the start of a formal partnership. An initiative championed by the Transdev’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Council, Xavier students now will have access to the worldwide mobility company as a preferred employer of choice.

Transdev Regional Vice President Justin Augustine, who hails from New Orleans, is not only a Xavier graduate but also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Xavier University of Louisiana. “Xavier is my home. It’s a special place made up of extraordinary students. I am glad to see this partnership come to fruition. These students are capable of so many great things and I am glad to see my two worlds converge. Through this partnership, more opportunities will be provided to these students, as they begin to decide and develop their career paths and interests.”

The partnership will kick off focusing on three main components:

· A summer internship program, where selected Xavier students will work across the Transdev organization to gain valuable corporate and project experience.

· Xavier will host Transdev leaders to participate in a speaker series designed to educate students on career success.

· Transdev will offer career counseling from members of the organization to students who have questions about their career paths and job searches.

“We are excited to enter into this partnership with Transdev, which will allow our talented Xavierites to explore the transportation industry,” said Dr. Reynold Verret, President of Xavier University of Louisiana. “We are grateful to Trustee Augustine, who mediated this alliance and understands as an alum the importance of reaching back and offering current students access to new opportunities and a chance to investigate potential career paths as they consider life after Xavier.”

Transdev’s DEI Council Co-Chair Nathan Slater added, “Xavier’s reputation for producing quality students precedes itself. Transdev is about empowering people with the freedom to move while promoting workforce development. Aligning our DEI commitment with XULA is a great way to introduce the transportation industry to these students, as they start moving into their next phase of life. We look forward to working with, learning from, and introducing these students to interesting, new opportunities.”