Baton Rouge, October 17, 2025
News Summary
The Louisiana State University Presidential Search Committee has decided to postpone the search for the university’s next president until after Halloween. This change follows the LSU Board’s upcoming visit to the White House to celebrate their national baseball championship. Originally scheduled to conclude the search by October 24, the committee will meet on October 23 to shortlist candidates and hold public interviews on October 29. The move comes amid challenges regarding transparency and the implications of the new presidency following the departure of former President William Tate IV.
BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana State University (LSU) Presidential Search Committee has announced that it will delay the hiring of the university’s next president until after Halloween 2023. This decision comes in light of the LSU Board members’ scheduled visit to the White House on October 20, 2023, to celebrate the national baseball championship, thereby pushing back the initial timeline for the search.
Originally, the committee aimed to conclude its search by the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on October 24, 2023. However, in light of the recent developments, the committee will now hold a meeting on October 23, 2023, to decide which candidates will be formally invited to apply for the presidency. Following this, a second meeting is set for October 29, 2023, during which public interviews for candidates will take place. The goal is to narrow the field down to three finalists.
These finalists will participate in meetings with various university community stakeholders, including faculty and students. Some of these meetings are expected to be public, encouraging an inclusive dialogue about the potential leadership of LSU. Following the interviews, the LSU Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting to vote on the new president, although Board Chairman Scott Ballard did not specify when this voting meeting will occur.
The current search timeline has faced challenges, notably the disruptions during the meeting on October 1, 2023, where student protests led to several arrests. These incidents, combined with the need to accommodate the upcoming White House celebration, have significantly shifted the timeline for selecting LSU’s next leader.
The search for a new president was initiated after former President William Tate IV announced his departure to assume the presidency at Rutgers University. The individual who is selected will face a series of challenges and opportunities that arise from Tate’s administration, which was known for achieving record funding in research as well as facing scrutiny related to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Further discussions about the future leadership structure of LSU are ongoing. The board is considering whether to appoint one president to oversee the entire LSU system or to establish separate roles for a system president and a chancellor for the Baton Rouge campus.
Concerns surrounding the transparency of the selection process and potential protections for applicants’ identities are also being addressed among board members and faculty. Currently, Interim President Matt Lee is managing the transition while the search for a permanent president continues.
Timeline Overview
- October 1, 2023 – Disruptions occur during earlier search meeting, impacting timeline.
- October 20, 2023 – LSU Board members visit the White House.
- October 23, 2023 – Committee meeting to shortlist candidates.
- October 24, 2023 – Initial deadline for the search postponed.
- October 29, 2023 – Public interviews with candidates.
Challenges Ahead
- Funding achievements vs. scrutiny over DEI initiatives.
- Leadership structure deliberations.
- Concerns over process transparency.
Interim Leadership
Matt Lee currently serves as the interim president overseeing the transition.
Key Features of the LSU Presidential Search
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial Search Timeline | Before October 24, 2023 |
| New Timeline Conclusion | After Halloween 2023 |
| Upcoming Committee Meeting | October 23, 2023 |
| Candidate Interviews | October 29, 2023 |
| Current Interim President | Matt Lee |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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William Tate IV Appointed as President of Rutgers University
LSU Accelerates Search for New President Amid Protests
5th Circuit Court Strikes Down Louisiana Ten Commandments Law
LSU Settles Case with Former Law School Dean Alena Allen
LSU Interim President Highlights Achievements and Priorities
LSU Outlines Ambitious Goals and Recent Achievements
LSU Interim President Unveils Ambitious University Vision
Political Influence Threatens Academic Freedom in Southern Universities
Julia Letlow Declines LSU Presidency, Weighs Senate Run
Additional Resources
- La Illumator: LSU Readjusts Timeline to Hire Next President
- WBRZ: LSU Presidential Search Committee Announces New Meeting Dates
- LSU Reveille: LSU President Search Timeline Committee Meeting
- NOLA: LSU President Search William Tate
- Business Report: LSU Could See Its Next Leader Named by Halloween
- Wikipedia: Louisiana State University
- Google Search: LSU presidential search
- Google Scholar: Louisiana State University president
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Louisiana State University
- Google News: LSU presidential search
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