Director, Learning Spaces and Facilities, School of Liberal Arts
Sheldon Jones, then Supervisor of Instructional Media Services, recalls the surreal moment when Tulane’s freshman convocation came to an abrupt halt. “Everyone was preparing in McAlister Auditorium when then-President Scott Cowen said something like, ‘Welcome to Tulane—and it’s time to go home.’ None of us knew what was coming.”
He and his colleagues quickly exchanged numbers and evacuation locations, expecting to return within days. Instead, Sheldon wouldn’t see them again for two months. “After the storm, we relied on text messages to find one another and share updates about where we’d relocated.”
Tulane’s assurance of continued pay was a lifeline. “At a time when I was living in Baton Rouge with no idea about the condition of my house, this was the most comforting news I could imagine. Knowing there was still stability during so much uncertainty brought real relief to me and my family.”
But the work ahead was daunting. Sheldon and his colleagues were responsible for maintaining all the technology classrooms on campus, and even though the fall semester was lost, they had to be ready for spring. That meant juggling FEMA claims, insurance, and housing challenges while also preparing classrooms. Alongside coworkers Derek Toten and David Zeringue, he managed the demands of the job while leaning on them personally. “By the time students and faculty returned, the classrooms were ready because we had poured all of our energy into making it happen.”
One act of kindness stands out most in Sheldon’s memory. His coworkers, whose homes weren’t as badly damaged, came to help him rebuild. “They laid new wood flooring in my house. I still have those floors, and they’re a daily reminder of the generosity people are capable of when others are in need.”
For Sheldon, the lesson of Katrina was perseverance. “Giving up was never an option, no matter the destruction, grief, or despair. Keeping faith and moving one step at a time eventually brought us closer to resolution. Looking back, I know that kind of support—both from Tulane and from one another—would have been hard to find anywhere else.”
He hopes his colleagues who endured those days alongside him have found peace. “I hope your homes are fully resettled, your family gatherings and Sunday football parties have returned, your gardens are thriving, and your neighbors, old and new, share in the joy of what makes New Orleans so special. It’s us. We make it special.”
