SU to honor Dr. Dolores Spikes at building ceremony

Southern University has a rich heritage of alumni and students who contribute greatly to the overall integrity and dignity of the institution. Dr. Dolores Spikes is arguably one of the most influential and positive role models of Southern University.
Southern will name it’s Honors College Building after Spikes in a naming ceremony on Thursday, October 4 at 10:30 a.m.
A woman of many firsts, Spikes was the first black graduate and the first graduate of Southern to attain a doctorate of mathematics from Louisiana State University in December 1971. In addition, Spikes was the first woman to head a public institution of higher education in Louisiana in July of 1987, and holds the much-esteemed distinction of being the first female to preside over a university system in America, beginning her tenure October 29, 1988.
Spikes began her tenure at Southern as an associate professor of mathematics and moved through the ranks attaining the rank of full professor. In 1981 Spikes served as a full professor of mathematics, coordinator of the Mathematics Developmental Education Program and part-time assistant to the chancellor. Then from 1982 to 1985 she served as executive vice-chancellor and vice chancellor for academic affairs. In 1987 she became the Chancellor of Southern University-New Orleans and from 1998 to 1991 she was the chancellor of Southern University-Baton Rouge.
Currently Spikes is retired living in Baton Rouge. She is also currently a member of many influential boards and commissions She is a frequent visitor of football games attending almost everyone. She has held tickets in the same seats for over two decades.
Spikes recounted, “the board was picking a new system president and the board chair asked if I wanted the position and I requested to speak with my husband and family over night and give them an answer in the morning.” This became a reality because on October 29, 1988 Dr. Spikes became the president of the Southern University System; and held that distinction until December 31, 1996.
“The Baton Rouge campus was in a state of financial exigency and I was given the task to clean it up, in addition to this there was an on going consent decree that was allowed to expire and SUBR was coming up for reaffirmation of accreditation.” She continued, “It was unbelievable how Southern University got itself into such a situation.”
A Consent Decree by definition is a judicial decree expressing a voluntary agreement between parties to a suit, especially an agreement by a defendant to cease activities alleged by the government to be illegal in return for an end to the charges. These decrees were common amongst black institutions because of government officials attempting to discriminate quite frequently on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Spikes said that the community, faculty, staff and students showed a great outpouring of love and when she asked of the community donations she shortly received $600,000 worth. “It was a really great thing, the faculty, staff and student showed a great outpouring of love.”
“I asked the faculty and staff to take a five percent cut in pay in order to address the state of financial exigency on the Baton Rouge campus and only one person said no but everyone else agreed, but within ten years we were able to give the faculty and staff their money back,” said Spikes.
“In order to address the upcoming accreditation I had to ask for a deferral of one year, SACS never gives deferrals on its visits, but I had placed myself in a position to be able to ask for that favor and get it.” She continued, “the next year we got through it (accreditation), we got a lot of recommendations from SACS, but no warnings or probations.”
Spikes said, “within ten years we were able to establish Southern again as an institution of credibility.”
When Spikes was asked of the current state of Southern University she said, “Unfortunately the conduct of the board (SU Board of Supervisors) has driven many to lazier fair attitude”, She continued, “I hope that Southern can again be revitalized.”
Spikes on December 31, 1996 stepped down as president of the Southern System and became the President of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on January 13, 1997. She claims that she did not leave Southern just to go to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She served at UMES for some ten years, although she remained faithful to her alma mater Southern.
“I left Southern University because of the board and others trying to undermine my authority,” said Spikes. “The current interim chancellor saw my frustration as I tried to move the institution forward intellectually, academically, and intelligently. This was although not the same beliefs of those on the Board of Supervisors.”
Margaret S. Ambrose, current Interim Chancellor at SUBR said, “I have known Dr. Spikes for some 30 years and she not only my mentor but also one of my closest friends.”
Ambrose served as Executive Associate to Spikes for eight years and equates the term Jaguar Pride with Dolores Spikes. Ambrose also spoke of the tribulations that dogged her mentor.
“I witnessed the many obstacles that she had to face; and the amazing thing about Dr. Spikes’ accomplishments were because they were not done because of her circumstances instead they were done in lieu of her circumstances,” said Ambrose.
Ambrose equates much of her success as a leader to Spikes saying that still to this day she believes in the principles of Spikes more specifically her educational philosophy of placing students first.
“As I take on my responsibilities on an interim basis I try to remember the basic principals that I learned under her mentorship and I am eternally grateful,” said Ambrose.
Spikes when asked what she would like to leave the SU community with and she thoughtfully left us with the following, “if one remains true to one’s goals and is honest to one’s self and with others then one can find comfort in whatever avenue of life that one might pursue.”
Spikes also hold the title of President Emeritus.