Rate My Professor Monica Pierre

Monica Pierre serves as Assistant Professor of Practice in the Mass Communication Department within the College of Arts and Sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana. She holds a B.S. from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. With a distinguished career as an Emmy award-winning journalist, producer, and broadcaster, Pierre imparts practical industry knowledge to her students, focusing on the profound influence of storytelling in media and its capacity to empower individuals and foster societal change. As a dedicated mentor, she maintains strong professional networks locally and nationally, guiding students to innovate and remain competitive in the evolving media landscape.

In her professional achievements, Pierre secured her third Suncoast Regional Emmy Award on November 3, 2023, as executive producer of the WLAE-TV documentary 'Battlegrounds: The Lost Community of Fazendeville,' honored in the Diversity/Equity/Inclusion, Long-Form Content category. This compelling work explores the history of Fazendeville, a resilient community founded by formerly enslaved people in the 19th century, which faced demolition in the early 1960s to facilitate expansion of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The documentary features poignant stories from surviving former residents, their descendants, and local historians, shedding light on a overlooked chapter of American history. Prior to this, Pierre was a two-time Emmy winner. In October 2023, she was selected as an Alex Trebek Legacy Fellow by the Television Academy Foundation, recognizing media professionals passionate about the industry. This honor enabled her attendance at the 2023 Media Educators Conference in Los Angeles, where she engaged with television creators and leaders to expand opportunities for diverse HBCU graduates. Pierre has contributed significantly to campus life as faculty advisor to The Xavier Herald, aiding the student newspaper's revival and securing multiple awards in 2022. She hosted a prominent virtual event series for AARP New Orleans in 2022, titled 'Historical Significance of New Orleans’ Black Mardi Gras: A Celebration of Culture & Community,' conducting in-depth interviews with leaders from Black Mardi Gras krewes, walking clubs, and traditions, including Elroy James of the Krewe of Zulu, Jim Henderson of NOMTOC, and others, highlighting the richness and resilience of these cultural practices.