Centenary College of Louisiana celebrated the grand opening of the Davis C.A.R.E. Center (Counseling, Assistance, Resources, and Education) today with a reception from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Rotary Hall. The event marked the launch of a comprehensive hub for student basic needs and well-being. It builds on the College’s existing Counseling and Health Information office, expanding it into a coordinated center where students can find immediate help and lasting support in one accessible, student-centered location.
The Davis C.A.R.E. Center is built around a simple philosophy: when a student is in need, the College responds immediately, then connects that student to long-term, sustainable support through expert community partnerships. Mental health, physical well-being, financial stress, food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation barriers are rarely experienced in isolation, and the Davis Center brings these dimensions of student life together under one roof.
“The Davis C.A.R.E. Center brings together personal relationships, strong community partnerships, and a deep commitment to seeing every student succeed,” said Dr. Christopher Holoman, President of Centenary College.
The Center preserves and expands the strengths of Centenary’s current counseling and health services program, including in-person and online counseling, health services and education, a telehealth room, biofeedback equipment, a sensory room, and a relaxation and meditation space. Around this foundation, the Davis Center adds a coordinated set of basic needs resources, including immediate food assistance, laundry and personal supplies, cookware and dishware, a continued over-the-counter medication supply, and access to the SGA-Davis Student Emergency Fund for urgent financial needs. Students with medical or emergency transportation needs can also request a ride through the Center.
When a student’s needs exceed what the Center can provide directly, staff connect them to key community partners: the YWCA’s Fab Finds for clothing, the NWLA Foodbank for Medicaid and SNAP application assistance, the Noel Food Pantry for food, and Out of the Closet for additional clothing assistance. The Student Government Association has provided funding to support both clothing assistance and the emergency fund.
As part of the Davis C.A.R.E. Center initiative, Centenary has expanded its partnership with TimelyCare, a national leader in virtual health and well-being services for students, to offer 24/7 basic-needs support. TimelyCare will connect students with relevant resources and provide proactive follow-up–in the local community and nationwide when students are at home or on break.
The creation of this center was supported through a generous gift from the Davis family. Don and Sallie Davis built a remarkable legacy of giving back to Shreveport – the city where they met and shared more than 60 years of marriage. Don served as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board for Rockwell International and Rockwell Automation, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company into a successful global enterprise. As college graduates, Don and Sallie believed deeply that education is the foundation for achievement in both life and career. Their contribution reflects their lifelong commitment to opportunity, learning, and service.
“We are incredibly excited to expand our services through the Davis C.A.R.E. Center and create an additional space where students know they can come when they need support,” said Jamie Wells ’13, Director of Counseling Services & Health Information. “Our goal is to meet students where they are, help address their immediate needs and connect them with resources and referrals that can support longer-term solutions. At the heart of this initiative is a simple message: we care about our students, and we want to make sure they have the support they need to thrive. The Davis C.A.R.E. Center is one way we are putting that commitment into action.”
“Even the most successful students can face unexpected challenges,” said Mark Miller, Vice-President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “The Davis C.A.R.E. Center helps ensure that a temporary setback does not become a barrier to success. When ongoing support is needed, we can connect students with outstanding community partners who have the expertise and resources to make a lasting difference. For more than 30 years, every single Centenary graduate has given back to this community through service to a local non-profit or similar civic engagement, and our student organizations annually donate time, food, clothing, and funds to worthy causes. Many of these same community organizations help ensure that students and their families have the support they need to thrive. This network of reciprocal care benefits our campus and the Shreveport-Bossier community.”
The Center also houses two recently approved initiatives: the Davis Counseling Fellows program, which places two graduate counseling interns in the Center each year to expand direct support and case coordination, and the SGA-Davis Student Emergency Fund, which allows staff to address urgent student needs in real time. Both are supported through endowed funding intended to sustain the Center’s work for years to come.
For more information about the Davis C.A.R.E. center, please contact Jamie Wells, Director of Counseling Services & Health Information, at 318.869.5424 or email her at [email protected].