The Rotary Club of Alexandria has awarded its highest honor, the Service Above Self Award, to LSU of Alexandria Chancellor Paul Coreil and his wife, Arlene, jointly recognizing a lifetime of leadership, community service, and dedication to improving the lives of others.
The Service Above Self Award was first established by Rotary International in 1911 to recognize outstanding service, leadership, and integrity. It represents the highest honor bestowed upon a Rotarian. The award was presented following a unanimous recommendation by the Community Service Committee and was jointly issued by the Club President, President-Elect, and President-Nominee in recognition of The Coriel’s outstanding dedication to serving both the Rotary Club and the greater central Louisiana community.
“Service Above Self is more than a motto, it is a way of life,” said Michael Upton, President of the Rotary Club of Alexandria. “The impact Paul and Arlen have made through selfless service, leadership, and community involvement embodies the very best of Rotary and serves as an inspiration to us all.”
For more than four decades, Coreil has devoted his career to education, youth development, economic advancement, and community leadership throughout Louisiana, with Arlene by his side. From his work with the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana 4-H to his service as Chancellor of LSUA, he has consistently approached leadership as an opportunity to create pathways for others to succeed.
Since returning to LSUA as Chancellor in 2019, Coreil has led one of the most transformative periods in the university’s history. During his tenure, enrollment has grown from just over 3,200 students to more than 8,000, making LSUA one of the fastest-growing undergraduate institutions in the nation. Perhaps more important than focusing solely on growth, Coreil’s leadership has centered on expanding access to education, strengthening workforce development, and ensuring that LSUA serves as a public good for the people of Louisiana.
Coreil’s commitment to helping others succeed has been especially evident in his advocacy for individuals with disabilities and young people across Louisiana. Alongside his wife, Arlene, Coreil helped champion the creation of LSUA’s SPERO program, providing students with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities to experience college life, build workforce skills, and pursue greater independence. And, earlier in his career, through the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana 4-H, he helped develop generations of young leaders, earning induction into both the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame and the National 4-H Hall of Fame.
“Paul has always believed that universities, businesses, churches, and community organizations are strongest when they work together toward common goals,” said LSUA Provost and incoming Chancellor Liz Beard, Ph.D. “His leadership has helped shape the future of LSUA, but his impact reaches far beyond our campus. He embodies the very spirit of service above self. This award recognizes not only what he has accomplished, but the countless lives he has impacted along the way.”
Throughout his career, Coreil has remained guided by a belief that leadership is fundamentally about stewardship. While serving students, families, businesses, faith communities, and civic organizations, he has consistently focused on building partnerships, creating opportunity, and helping communities recognize their potential.
As Coreil prepares to retire on July 1, 2026, the impact of his work continues across the region. Construction is nearly underway on LSUA’s Health Education Campus, workforce partnerships continue to expand, and thousands of students are pursuing degrees that will prepare them to serve Louisiana communities for years to come. The Service Above Self Award recognizes a lifetime of leadership whose effects will continue to be felt by those lives that have been changed by Coreil’s commitment to serving others.
Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit – Nathan Parish