Grambling State University marked another milestone in its ongoing campus transformation with the grand reopening of the renovated Foster Johnson Health Center and the Student Counseling and Wellness Center—two spaces vital to the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of the campus community.
The newly modernized facilities represent a significant investment in comprehensive student care, combining state-of-the-art medical and counseling services under one roof to promote wellness, access, and holistic support.
“This milestone is the result of a journey that began decades ago,” said Grambling State Vice President of Student Affairs Rudolph Ellis as he opened the ceremony. In 1988, the National Park Service established the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Preservation Grant Program, a vital initiative designed to document, preserve, and stabilize historic structures across HBCU campuses. The goal was clear — to protest and revitalize buildings of historical and cultural significance so they could continue serving future generations of students.
“Through the program, projects are required to meet rigorous standards set by the Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation — ensuring that the balance between historical integrity and modern functionality is upheld.”
In 2019, with the advocacy of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), GSU was awarded a $500,000 federal grant under that program. Led by the Office of Student Affairs and Principal Investigator Patrice Outley, the funding made possible the first major renovation of the Foster Johnson Health Center in decades.
“Our vision was to honor its historic importance while transforming it into a space equipped to provide quality health services aligned with today’s best practices,” Ellis said.
As the renovation advanced, an additional $300,000 in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) was allocated to modernize the Student Counseling and Wellness Center, expanding access to critical mental health services and integrating technology-driven solutions such as telehealth.
That additional funding allowed GSU to:
- Expand and modernize counseling spaces for greater privacy and comfort.
- Upgrade technology to support telehealth and virtual counseling services.
- Enhance wellness programming with rooms for workshops and group counseling.
- Improve accessibility and safety features throughout the facility.
“These combined efforts reflect more than just infrastructure improvements — they reflect a holistic commitment to student success, health, and resilience,” Ellis said. “By investing in both physical health and mental wellness, we are ensuring that Grambling students have the support they need to thrive academically, personally, and professionally.”
For President Martin Lemelle, Jr., the reopening carried both institutional and personal significance.
“This Center reopening is very important,” Lemelle said. “It’s very vital to the wellness and the vitality of student life, and employee life on our campus. The year was 2004, and there was a young man at Grambling State University who happened to serve as SGA president while also serving as polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., who decided to get approval to take 21 hours and also complete two internships in one year.
“So, that young man was overwhelmed and feeling the stress of life. So, he found his way to The Counseling Center here at Grambling State University and began a journey of counseling and therapy. That young man was me. So, wherever you are on life’s journey, know that we have the support and resources here to ensure that you’re successful.”
Then Lemelle flashed forward.
“Now I’ll take you to the year 2024,” he said. “A young man, maybe not as young, with some gray hair, came over to the Health Center with (Johnson Foster Health Center Director Patrice Outley), because his blood pressure was high.
“So, we took a walk — my executive assistant and lifelong friend and classmate Kelsea Smith — to get our blood pressure checked right here on the campus. So, this Center is important. It helps us to continue to do great work each and every day. There is bravery, and vulnerability, so we are here for you, we are thankful for you, and we will continue to support you.”
Patrice Outley, director of the Foster Johnson Health Center, shared details about the improvements made possible through the renovations.
“These renovations have given us the opportunity to add more exam rooms, modernize our lab space, create a functional meeting area, and incorporate an educational component that will enhance the well-being of our students.
“We have also prepared for a future in-house pharmacy, so let’s all pray for that. That could make access to medications even more convenient for our students.”
Coleen Speed, director of the Student Counseling and Wellness Center, highlighted the evolution of services that now define Grambling State’s wellness approach.
“I’ve been here quite some time now,” Speed said. “We started out with our services being just counseling. Then we continued to expand our services, and now we do recovery services. So those who are in recovery can come and have a safe place and actually continue to heal.
“We have also expanded to include services for psychiatry. We have a consultant — a contracted psychiatrist — who will be coming in on Oct. 16, hopefully, and then every month she will meet with students for med checks.”
The renovated Health Center and Counseling and Wellness Center now stand as central pillars of Grambling State’s commitment to student success — ensuring that every student has access to the care, connection, and community needed to thrive.
“Today, we don’t just reopen two facilities — we open doors to healthier, stronger, and brighter futures for our students.”
