Donna T. Auzenne Endowed Memorial Fund for the Society of Women Engineers

Donna T. Auzenne, a 1981 Petroleum Engineering graduate, was a trailblazer in her field. Not only was she the first African American female to graduate in petroleum engineering from UL Lafayette, but Donna also carved a place for herself in a largely male-dominated industry, working her way up to Water Flood Optimization Team Leader with Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company and paving the way for the next generation of female engineers. Throughout an impressive career in petroleum engineering, Donna inspired and mentored countless women in her industry through her involvement in the community with the hope of cultivating a new outlook for the potential of women in STEM careers.

Donna passed away suddenly in July of 2020. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Lou Hebert, who has chosen to commemorate his wife’s legacy in the field of engineering by establishing a fund in support of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at UL Lafayette. This is so fitting since SWE’s mission is to empower women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.