Stephen Soutullo
At age 66, Dr. Stephen Soutullo passed away after investing many years to the university.
“A few words could not possibly sum up what this man has done for Southeastern Louisiana University and the hundreds of people who were fortunate to have known him,” said Paulette Poche, Director of Records and Registration. “Steve Soutullo was a supervisor, a mentor and a friend to me as he was to so many. He always welcomed me and others as we approached his office door with a warm smile and a greeting of, ‘Come on in. How can I help?’”
Soutullo worked in various roles in Enrollment Services beginning in 1992 until he retired in 2010 returning in 2014 as a consultant.
“I had the privilege of meeting Steve in the 90s when I began working on my MBA and held a graduate assistantship in Student Affairs,” said Sam Domiano, Vice President for Administration and Finance. “However, I worked most closely with him when I began serving in the role of Director of Admissions and Financial Aid in 2001 which reported to Steve directly as he was serving as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management at the time. Steve and I established a great working relationship and friendship that remained strong ever since.”
Colleagues note how generous Soutullo was with his knowledge and experience.
“Although Steve was involved in many projects, he always made time to answer questions or listen to my thoughts,” said Poche. “Steve gave that gift of his knowledge and caring to all, no matter who you were, student, faculty or staff. He wanted the best for everyone involved and for the student’s journey to be able to transition from admission to graduation as smooth and as wonderful as possible.”
Soutullo was a core part of the university as Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management from 2007 to 2010.
“Steve’s role was so important because it was the lifeline of the university as it was a lead position focused on the recruitment and retention of students,” said Domiano. “However, what Steve brought to the position as a person was a true passion and drive to work with every student in every situation to ensure student success. He was a true advocate for students and would go above and beyond to help students in any situation.”
Domiano believes Soutullo leaves behind a legacy of care and wisdom for helping students.
“While there are so many lessons learned from Steve, I do believe his true legacy is rooted in his advocacy for students,” said Domiano. “Students were always at the core of every discussion, every decision and every action. A legacy is about passing on the wisdom that you have gained from the many years of experiences, not just work experiences, but life experiences. There is no doubt that is exactly what Steve did, and his legacy will live on for many years to come.”
Poche also believes students were a core component of Soutullo’s thoughts and decisions.
“The very first student was just as important to him as the very last student,” said Poche. “Steve’s presence always left you filled with encouragement. Stephen Soutullo was genuine. Several legacies could be attributed to Steve, but I think he was very proud of the Joseph and Gloria Soutullo Memorial Scholarship in honor of his parents.”
Soutullo, who passed away May 6, will be sincerely missed by his colleagues.
“While you can replace people and skill sets, we will not be able to replace Steve,” said Domiano. “What Steve brought was more than about how hard he worked and how good he was at his job, it was about who Steve was as a person. Since his death, I find myself thinking often, ‘What would Steve do in this situation?’ Steve was more than a colleague, he was a friend that will truly be missed.”
