Don began his career in academia in 1965 at Oklahoma State University as Assistant Professor of Finance.
In 1966, Don was named the first holder of the Louisiana Bankers Association Chair of Banking and Associate Professor of Finance at Louisiana State University. During his distinguished 21-year career at LSU, he served as Professor of Finance, Chairman of the Department of Finance, and Dean of the College of Business.
While at LSU, he began working with the Graduate School of Banking of the South, now the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. Upon his retirement from LSU, Don became the full-time Executive Vice-President and Director of GSBLSU, serving in that position for 31 years. He retired from GSBLSU in 2018 after 50+ years of service. His impact on banking education is significant as he set a standard for academic excellence and leadership at the school which continues today.
Don was an exceptional leader. His down-to-earth demeanor, sincerity, strive for excellence, and encouragement made everyone feel appreciated.
In his downtime, he enjoyed spending time at his ranch in Spillman, LA. It was his little slice of a West Texas ranch in South Louisiana.
Dr. Woodland passed away on Wednesday, September 16th, at the age of 90. We are proud to honor the legacy of Dr. Woodland through the DLW Banking Education Scholarship.
Created in his memory, this scholarship reflects Dr. Woodland’s commitment to banking education and developing the next generation of industry leaders. Each year, it will provide one high-potential banker from a smaller community bank or recently organized de novo bank with the opportunity to attend GSBLSU when the financial commitment of a three-year graduate banking program might otherwise be a barrier. The scholarship will be awarded annually through an application process to deserving bankers from one of the 15 Southeastern states (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, & WV) within the GSBLSU footprint. We look forward to sharing more soon about scholarship requirements, the application process, and opportunities to contribute as we continue Dr. Woodland’s legacy through banking education.