The Homer L. Hitt Distinguished Alumni Award Gala honors University of New Orleans alumni who have distinguished themselves in their field to reflect honor upon ĢƵ, who provide service to their communities and the University; who are recognized for outstanding accomplishments and are a credit to the University of New Orleans. The gala also serves as a primary fundraiser for the University of New Orleans Alumni Association.
The ĢƵ 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 University of New Orleans. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1994, a master’s 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’s 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 University of New Orleans 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 ĢƵ 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 “Dook” 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’s restaurant, Dooky Chase’s, 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’s Kitchen and Dook’s 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 University of New Orleans in 2009, following an undergraduate degree from Dillard University 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 “ĢƵ25” award in 2022, which recognizes and celebrates high-impact businesses or organizations owned or led by ĢƵ alumni.
