Job description

Office of the President

The Office of the President provides overall leadership, vision, and direction for the Louisiana State University System (“LSU System”).  The LSU System is the flagship system of public colleges and universities in Louisiana, and includes the following locations: Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge (designated by law as the premier flagship university for the state); Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Louisiana State University at Eunice, Louisiana State University at Shreveport, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center.  The University of New Orleans is expected to become a part of the LSU System in 2026.

LSU is governed by the LSU Board of Supervisors, composed of two members from each congressional district and three members from the state at large, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

The LSU System has more than 60,000 students, including online enrollment.  Of those, more than 42,000 are undergraduate students, over 15,000 are graduate students, and more than 3,400 are professional students in health sciences, law, and veterinary medicine programs.  In 2024-2025, LSU granted more than 6,800 bachelor’s degrees, over 5,300 master’s degrees, 363 doctoral degrees, 855 professional degrees and 853 associate degrees/certificates. LSU has more than 3,400 full-time equivalent faculty members, including 1,500 tenured or on tenure-track. The LSU System has an endowment with a market value larger than $1.2 billion, approximately $489 million in annual research expenditures and 197 active licenses.

President Responsibilities

As the chief executive for both the LSU System and the LSU A&M campus (a Land, Sea, and Space Grant institution),the President will provide strategic and collaborative leadership in developing and advancing aspirational goals and plans to achieve LSU’s mission of fostering first-class learning, the discovery of innovations, and the development ofLouisiana’s human capital by applying research and scholarship in advancing intellectual, personal, and professional growth.

As the chief executive of LSU A&M, the President will advance the generation, preservation, dissemination, and application of knowledge and cultivation of all academic areas of study on the campus.

As required by the current LSU Bylaws, the President will establish administrative policies and procedures; implement educational policies; coordinate the activities among the various campuses; prepare and present a consolidated budget; serve as government liaison and spokesperson for the University to the alumni, news media, and the general public; andpromote the general welfare of the University in its several parts and as a whole. The President is a member of allfaculties and serves as chair of all Faculty Councils. The President is the chair of the LSU Leadership Council, consisting of the Chancellors and designated University Officers.

The LSU president is expected to:

• Develop, periodically review, and maintain a long-term policy, programmatic, and operational agenda that incorporates the needs of students, the Board of Supervisors, faculty, staff, administration, State Legislators, alumni, and business and community stakeholders.
• Provide effective leadership and support for all academic programs to achieve excellence in instruction, research, and outreach.
• Provide effective leadership and support for a program of student life that complements academic programs and recognizes the interests and needs of the student body.
• Support and mentor the leadership of all campuses of the LSU System, and build a culture of understanding, mutual trust, collaboration, and shared accountability to ensure academic, research, and fiscal excellence across all locations.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson for the LSU System, promoting the University’s interests and managing its reputation with external stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain effective relations with the executive and legislative divisions of the state and federal government, the national academic community, and other relevant constituencies.
• Manage the fiscal resources of the LSU System and that of the LSU A&M campus and provide leadership in obtaining the financial and human resources necessary to accomplish the mission of the University.
• Provide leadership in philanthropic activities to support LSU, coordinating and supporting efforts by the LSU Foundation, LSU Alumni Association, and the Tiger Athletic Foundation.
• Provide direction, support, and appropriate control over the intercollegiate athletics programs within the LSU System.

LSU President Attributes/Qualifications

In order to fulfill these important responsibilities, LSU seeks an innovative and visionary President to bring it to the next level. An ideal candidate for President should have the following qualities and qualifications:

• Uncompromising personal values (honesty, integrity, humility, empathy, motivation, respectful) demonstrated through interaction with students, faculty, and staff.
• Willingness to address difficult situations, and the capability to lead confidently and effectively through uncertainty, crisis, and unforeseeable circumstances.
• Ability to develop and effectively communicate a compelling and exciting vision for LSU, prioritizing academics and aligning the organization’s resources and actions (human and financial capital, infrastructure, processes, short- and long-term goals, etc.) to achieve the vision.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to engage with state and federal governmental officials and LSU philanthropic institutions in securing the sustainable fiscal and infrastructural support essential to achieving LSU’s mission and vision.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain long-term relationships with all constituents based on trust, mutual respect, transparency, and credibility.
• Demonstrated ability as a strong, credible, and effective communicator and a good listener in all situations.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively consider and weigh all relevant information and perspectives, and make informed, thoughtful decisions in a timely basis.
• Demonstrated success and continued willingness to build a culture that is never satisfied with average performance or the status quo.
• Confirmed track record of building teams that deliver outstanding results based on their focus, teamwork, and collaboration both internally and externally.
• Willingness to develop a true appreciation and love for LSU and Louisiana, its people and its traditions, and incorporate that perspective into the vision and everyday decisions.
• Significant academic accomplishments and an earned terminal degree sufficient to gain the trust and respect of the faculty.
• Outstanding financial and budgetary skills and a working knowledge of the issues facing universities, academic institutions, academic medical centers, and the academic research enterprise.
• Established history and successful track record of administration and leadership in a complex higher education environment.

How to apply

Confidential Inquiries and Nominations

The LSU Board of Supervisors has retained SSA Consultants to conduct this search.

Please direct any nominations or inquiries to:

SSA Consultants

[email protected]

225.769.2676