The public phase of the search for a new president at Northwestern State University began Monday afternoon with a brief meeting of the University of Louisiana System’s NSU Presidential Search Committee in the Magale Recital Hall on the university’s main campus in Natchitoches.
Committee members were introduced, the committee’s mission statement was read, and parameters and the projected timeline for the search were outlined during a session that lasted just over 20 minutes. Opportunity was provided for public input from a small group attending the meeting, but only one brief comment was made.
UL System board chair Mark Romero, a Lafayette businessman recently appointed to the post by Gov. Jeff Landry, presided over the meeting. First-year ULS president Rick Gallot, the former president at Grambling State University who previously was a state legislator and an attorney in Lincoln Parish, reviewed the procedures for the search.
Board members, who will ultimately vote to select the new president next month, were DeRidder native Drew Brown, the student representative as the SGA president at McNeese; Barry Busada of Shreveport, Natchitoches resident Lola Donahoe, Dr. John Noble of Lake Charles, Al Perkins of Prairieville, Liz Pierre of Monroe and Florien resident Joe Salter. NSU Faculty Senate president Dr. Frank Serio, who took over that position recently, is the other voter in the selection process.
Non-voting members are Judge Cade Cole, Angelique Freel, Doug Ireland, Gail Jones, state Rep. Jeremy LaCombe, Tommy McClelland, Leah Sherman Middlebrook, Robert “Skeeter” Salim, and Terrell “T.J.” Woodard, the NSU SGA president. All but Cole are NSU alumni.
A job advertisement was circulated in early June after the announcement of the departure of sitting president Marcus Jones, who will join the UL System staff as Chief Financial Officer in August.
Romero said the goal is to have the new Northwestern president taking over as early as August 1, and certainly in time for the fall semester that begins in mid-August.
The timeline outlined by Gallot includes a Friday, June 28 preferred deadline for applications, with candidates presented to the committee July 3. In a July 8 meeting in Baton Rouge, the committee will review applications and select semifinalists to interview in public on the NSU campus the following week. On-campus interviews in Natchitoches are slated for July 15-16, with the board interviewing finalists and selecting a president on July 18 in Baton Rouge.
Middlebrook, president of the NSU Alumni Association, shared an update on the process in an e-mail Monday afternoon sent to all alumni. She solicited public comment on the search process.
“I encourage you to provide your thoughts and feedback to the Northwestern State University Presidential Search Committee. Your input could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our alma mater,” she wrote.
“To submit feedback to the committee, visit https://www.ulsystem.edu/presidential-search/nsu-presidential-search-comments/. Let your voices be heard,” wrote Middlebrook.
