TheSouthern University Board of Supervisors announced the appointees to thePresidential Search Committee at a meeting of the committee earlier today.
‘You allhave been selected because you represent a constituency that is virtuallyimportant to this institution,’ said Johnny Anderson, chairman of the SouthernUniversity Board of Supervisors, as he gave the charge to the committeemembers. He added in his remarks outlining the Board”s expectations of thecommittee, ‘I ask that you be diligent in this search process and base yourrecommendation on solid leadership ability of the prospective candidates.’
Serving onthe committee are Atty. Dale N. Atkins, chair of the SU Board of Supervisors”Personnel Affairs and Policy Committee, and chairmen of the Presidential SearchCommittee; she is the Civil District Court Clerk for Orleans Parish. WillieBurton, chairman of the Department of Social Sciences, will serve as a representativeof the Southern University at Shreveport campus. Dr. Elton C. Harrison of BatonRouge, a former member of the SU Board of Supervisors, retired administrator ofSouthern University-Baton Rouge, Southern University-New Orleans and DillardUniversity, will represent the higher education community.
Sibal Holt,president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, will serve as a representative of labor.John W. Joseph, chairman of the Board”s Academic and Student Affairs Committee,and a former major of the city of Opelousas and co-owner of Ford and JosephFuneral Home in Opelousas. Sherika King, one of two student representatives onthe committee is a junior majoring in Biology at Southern University-BatonRouge. Myron K. Lawson, chair of the Board”s Finance and Audit Committee andformer Board chairman, owns a State Farm Insurance Agency in Alexandria. Dr.Raymond Lockett, a veteran professor of History at Southern University-BatonRouge, is the current chairman of the Department of History.
Dr. JohnMontgomery, pastor of the Greater King Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, willarticulate the interests of the religious community as a member of thecommittee. Catherine Morris, the second of two student representatives on thecommittee, is a senior majoring in Biology at Southern University-New Orleans.Gloria Moultria, the staff representative, serves as director of alumni affairsat Southern University-New Orleans. Dr. Huey Perry, a Chancellor”s Fellow, is aprofessor of Political Science and Public Policy and Urban Affairs at SouthernUniversity-Baton Rouge. Atty. John Pierre, a professor of Law and associatevice chancellor for special projects at the Southern University Law Center,will represent the Law Center.
Lea Polk,chairman of the Board”s Legislative Committee, is a former vive chairman of theBoard and currently holds the position of second vice president at SmithSolomon and Barney Investment Firm in New Orleans. Charlotte Placidde, thenewly appointed superintendent of East Baton Rouge faculty member and academicadministrator, is a representative of the higher education community. Donald C.Wade, national president of the Southern University Alumni Federation andretired director of alumni affairs, will represent the alumni. And, Dr. GayleWykle, and associate professor of Social Work at Southern University-NewOrleans, will represent the New Orleans campus.
Thecommittee is being asked to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors ofpotential candidate. The Board will also seek the assistance of an executive searchfirm to work along with committee in identifying candidates.
Thecommittee was formed following the announcement of current Southern UniversitySystem President Leon R. Tarver II”s resignation, effective June 40, 2005. Thecommittee will conduct a national search to fill the position. It is expectedthat the position will be filled by July 1.
Founded in1880, the Southern University System has campuses in Baton Rouge, New Orleans,Shreveport, a Law Center and Agricultural Research and Extension Center, with astudent enrollment of more than 15,000 and employs nearly 2,500 faculty, staffand administrators.