Dennis "DJ" Pevey
We are excited to welcome Centenary alum, DJ Pevey!
Pevey teaches science, music, and engineering at Ponchatoula High School in Louisiana. As a prominent leader in education, Pevey has earned several national teaching awards and was recently named the 2024 Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year.
His career includes leading professional development opportunities at national conferences, forging partnerships with stakeholders in his community, and participating in oceanographic expeditions as a science communicator aboard a marine research vessel, E/V Nautilus. 
In the classroom, he excels at developing high-quality STEAM projects that encourage students to use creativity to enhance the application of science, technology, and engineering in society. He believes that when students do real science in the classroom, they are far more likely to pursue science and engineering as a future career.
Kevin Nolten
Kevin Nolten, President of the Cyber Innovation Center, brings 15+ years of nonprofit and management expertise. Based in Northwest Louisiana, his career focuses on education, training, and workforce development in K-12, higher education, and industry.Leading the Cyber Innovation Center, Kevin manages a $25 million annual portfolio in federal grants from agencies like the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. His strategic engagement with policymakers secures crucial funding for Northwest Louisiana initiatives. Recognized for workforce development, he actively advances cybersecurity knowledge and economic development for both state and federal governments. Kevin's success lies in positioning the Cyber Innovation Center as a key player in cybersecurity and innovation, contributing to national security and local prosperity. His collaborative and strategic vision elevates the Center's national profile, securing vital resources for the region's technological and economic advancement. Kevin's dedication to interfacing with government representatives underscores his commitment to Northwest Louisiana's sustainable future.
Lauren Jones
With over a decade of experience, Lauren Jones has developed and led multiple community-based farming projects throughout Shreveport, Louisiana. She is the Director of Shreveport Green Urban Farm located on historic Sprague Street in the heart of Shreveport's downtown. Her primary focus is finding solutions that help balance equity in unjust food systems. She hopes to inspire others to increase resiliency in communities through local collaboration and a profound respect for the natural environment. Her skills include program development, volunteer management, regenerative farming, grant writing, public speaking, and therapeutic horticulture practices. She received The Champion of Change award from the LSU Ag Center in 2018 and was also recognized as the 2020 National Farm to School Network Community Food Champion. She is a proud advocate for building stronger farming and food systems in Louisiana and actively serves on the following boards and advisory committees: Louisiana Small Scale Agriculture Coalition (LSSAC), Louisiana Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (LA SARE), Louisiana Community Forestry Advisory Committee (LCFAC), and Milam Street Kitchen Incubator & Community Kitchen (MS KICK), Rotary Club of Downtown Shreveport.