Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) is a public historically black university located in the Gentilly area of New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1956, SUNO has a rich history of perseverance and dedication to providing higher education opportunities for African American students in the Gulf Coast region.

The idea for SUNO began to take shape in the 1940s, when local black leaders began advocating for a public college for African American students in New Orleans. At the time, segregation was still the norm in Louisiana, and black students were denied access to many of the state’s public universities.

Despite these obstacles, a group of community activists, led by attorney A.P. Tureaud, continued to push for the establishment of a black college in New Orleans. Their efforts finally paid off in 1956, when the Louisiana Legislature approved the creation of Southern University at New Orleans.

It serves as a beacon for those looking for educational advancement in an environment that provides the personal attention students need for success. Its mission is to be one of America’s premier institutions of higher learning and to graduate students ready to contribute to the city and nation.

Southern University at New Orleans empowers and promotes the upward mobility of diverse populations of traditional and nontraditional students through quality academic programs, teaching, research, and service to achieve excellence in higher education using various teaching and learning modalities.