The Homer L. Hitt Distinguished Alumni Award Gala honors 51本色 alumni who have distinguished themselves in their field to reflect honor upon UNO, who provide service to their communities and the 51本色; who are recognized for outstanding accomplishments and are a credit to the 51本色. The gala also serves as a primary fundraiser for the 51本色 Alumni Association.
The UNO Alumni Association cordially invites you to our 2025 Homer L. Hitt Distinguished Alumni Gala. Help us celebrate our 2025 Homer L. Hitt Distinguished Alumna/us and Norma Jane Sabiston Young Alumna/us of the year plus honorees from each college. You won't want to miss it!
Kimberly Cook-Nelson, '94, '97 & '99
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Entergy
Kimberly Cook-Nelson was recently named executive vice president and chief operating officer at Entergy, where she has overall responsibility for safety, power generation, power delivery, capital projects, incident response, system planning, and other businesses in the Operations portfolio.
Cook-Nelson is a three-time graduate of the 51本色. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering in 1994, a master鈥檚 in engineering management in 1997, and a Master of Business Administration in 1999.
Cook-Nelson began her career as a design engineer at the Waterford 3 nuclear plant and held several leadership positions there until being named vice president, operations support for Entergy Nuclear headquarters. Prior to her current role, she served as chief nuclear officer, responsible for the safe, secure, and reliable operations of Entergy鈥檚 four nuclear power plants and five reactors in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
In 2023, Cook-Nelson was named the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering Distinguished Alumna of the Year and currently serves as a director of the 51本色 Foundation. Cook-Nelson has also been a champion for fundraising for the Dr. Robert A. Savoie College of Engineering. In 2024, she spearheaded a crowdfunding campaign engaging Entergy employees who are UNO alumni to donate to refurbish a laboratory, with employee gifts matched by Entergy.
Edgar "Dook" Chase, IV, '09
Executive Chef and Operator
Dooky Chase's Restaurant
Owner/President
Chase Hospitality Group and Chase Concessions, LLC
Edgar 鈥淒ook鈥 Chase, IV has been active in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years, continuing the legacy of his late grandmother, Chef Leah Chase. He serves as the executive chef and operator of his family鈥檚 restaurant, Dooky Chase鈥檚, which was recently named a recipient of the 2025 James Beard Award for "American Classic: South."
Chase is also the owner/president of Chase Hospitality Group and Chase Concessions, LLC; a partner in Chase North, the premier food and beverage operator and management concessionaire at the Louis Armstrong International Airport; and the proprietor of two of their concepts, Leah鈥檚 Kitchen and Dook鈥檚 Burgers. Chase Concessions also operates eleven other concepts at MSY, as well as concepts in Boston Logan International Airport and Nashville International Airport.
Chase received a Master of Business Administration from the 51本色 in 2009, following an undergraduate degree from Dillard 51本色 and a formal culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu Paris. Chef Dook is active in his community and serves on several non-profit boards and commissions. He has received numerous recognitions and awards, including a 鈥淯NO25鈥 award in 2022, which recognizes and celebrates high-impact businesses or organizations owned or led by UNO alumni.
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Susan & William Hess
