Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Alost was one of four children of John Ernest Alost, Sr. (1905-1980), and the former Estelle Moore (1904-1980). His mother died six months before his father.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127867626/john-ernest-alost|title=John ERnest Alost, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref>

Alost was one of four children of John Ernest Alost, Sr. (1905-1980), and the former Estelle Moore (1904-1980). His mother died six months before his father.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127867626/john-ernest-alost|title=John Ernest Alost, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref>

He obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from NSU in 1957 and 1958, respectively, and his doctorate in education in 1963 from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He then joined the NSU faculty. In 1975, he was named dean of the College of Education, a post he filled until 1982.<ref name=ntimes/>

He obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from NSU in 1957 and 1958, respectively, and his doctorate in education in 1963 from [[Louisiana State University]] in [[Baton Rouge]]. He then joined the NSU faculty. In 1975, he was named dean of the College of Education, a post he filled until 1982.<ref name=ntimes/>

The autumn that I arrived at Bobby Alost’s school was the first time in my life that I felt that I truly belonged somewhere. That I had found my tribe. Dr. Alost, as we all called him, was a big, husky, papa bear figure who was the embodiment of our new home. He was our Big Chief. It’s funny, because he didn’t make a habit of getting too involved in the lives of his students, but then, he didn’t really have to in order to make an impression on us. We all knew that LSMSA existed because he had a dream, and he fought for it, and inspired good people ... to fight alongside him, and to nurture alongside him.

The autumn that I arrived at Bobby Alost’s school was the first time in my life that I felt that I truly belonged somewhere. That I had found my tribe. Dr. Alost, as we all called him, was a big, husky, papa bear figure who was the embodiment of our new home. He was our Big Chief. It’s funny, because he didn’t make a habit of getting too involved in the lives of his students, but then, he didn’t really have to in order to make an impression on us. We all knew that LSMSA existed because he had a dream, and he fought for it, and inspired good people ... to fight alongside him, and to nurture alongside him.

He showed me mercy once. There was quite a drinking culture among high school students in Louisiana back then. Liquor was strictly forbidden at LSMSA ... [After a romantic breakup, I was] depressed ... I went out and bought some booze. The head RA of my dorm caught me with it before I could drink a drop. That was my second offense. I could have been expelled for good, with only a few months till graduation. Had that happened, I would have done it to myself. But Dr. Alost decided to let me stay, when he did not have to. Like I said, I owed him a lot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/lsmsa-robert-alost/|author=Rod Dreher|title=Rpbert Alost, 1935-2020|publisher=''The American Conservative''|date=April 21, 2020|accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref></blockquote>

He showed me mercy once. There was quite a drinking culture among high school students in Louisiana back then. Liquor was strictly forbidden at LSMSA ... [After a romantic breakup, I was] depressed ... I went out and bought some booze. The head RA of my dorm caught me with it before I could drink a drop. That was my second offense. I could have been expelled for good, with only a few months till graduation. Had that happened, I would have done it to myself. But Dr. Alost decided to let me stay, when he did not have to. Like I said, I owed him a lot.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/lsmsa-robert-alost/|author=Rod Dreher|title=Robert Alost, 1935-2020|publisher=''The American Conservative''|date=April 21, 2020|accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref></blockquote>

==Tenure as president==

==NSU president==

Under president Alost, NSU enrollments increased from 5,272 to more than 9,000 after a period of decline and fiscal uncertainty."<ref name=ntimes/>He developed the Louisiana Scholars’ College and was involved in the establishment of the Department of Creative and Performing Arts. Under Alost, NSU became the first university in the nation to participate in the Joint Venture (JOVE) Program with [[NASA]].  He played an instrumental role in bringing the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training to the campus and oversaw the development of a doctoral program in educational technology.<ref name=ntimes/>

Under president Alost, NSU enrollments increased from 5,272 to more than 9,000 after a period of decline and fiscal uncertainty."<ref name=ntimes/>He developed the Louisiana Scholars’ College and was involved in the establishment of the Department of Creative and Performing Arts. Under Alost, NSU became the first university in the nation to participate in the Joint Venture (JOVE) Program with [[NASA]].  He played an instrumental role in bringing the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training to the campus and oversaw the development of a doctoral program in educational technology.<ref name=ntimes/>