LSU Law Dean Thomas Galligan takes over as interim LSU system President while the institution conducts a national search to replace F. King Alexander, who is leaving for Oregon State.
Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says the search may be national, but two men with deep Louisiana ties are possible candidates.
“You are hearing some non-traditional names being bandied around already in terms of Stephen Moret, Jay Dardenne, those are non-traditional types of folks to be running a university.”
Dardenne leads the Division of Administration, and Moret is a former economic development secretary in Louisiana and LSU foundation president. He’s currently President and CEO at Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
Erwin says whoever takes over for Alexander will have big shoes to fill. He says Alexander was making good progress on turning LSU into a destination for talented students and staff, so they’ll have to…
“Continue to raise its stature as an academic institution to compete against the folks in our region that we do have to compete with, not just for student-athletes but for quality academic students.”
But it is LSU, and so athletic success remains a requirement for the job. The school recently invested a lot of money in new AD Scott Woodward, but the new Pres will have to keep an eye on the athletic department.
“We know that academics are the most important part of what a university is supposed to do that is just fundamental. But you cannot separate the athletic portion of it.”
Alexander’s last day will be December 31st. He served as school President for six years.
