BATON ROUGE, La. — The University of Louisiana System announced the formation of the Presidential Search Committee for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as the system begins the process of selecting the institution’s next president.
The committee includes representatives from across the UL Lafayette community and key stakeholders and will work in partnership with the University of Louisiana System and its Board of Supervisors. Its responsibilities include defining leadership priorities, reviewing candidates and advancing recommendations as the search progresses.
The Presidential Search Committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting Jan. 14, 2026. During the meeting, members will formally receive their charge, outline next steps in the search process and begin gathering input from UL Lafayette stakeholders.
“UL Lafayette plays a vital role in shaping the future of our state,” said University of Louisiana System President Rick Gallot. “This search is about leadership—finding a president who understands the responsibility of leading a major public research university and who values its people and its mission.”
Mark Romero, chair of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, said alignment and accountability will be central to the process.
“Our focus is on fit and accountability,” Romero said. “UL Lafayette deserves a leader who understands the institution, respects its culture, and is prepared to lead with clarity and responsibility. The work of the search committee is essential to ensuring we select a president who can earn trust and deliver results.”
A complete list of Presidential Search Committee members, along with the search timeline and process details, is available on the UL Lafayette Presidential Search website. The University of Louisiana System said updates will be shared as the search continues and encouraged interested parties to check the site regularly for new information.
The University of Louisiana System enrolls more than 84,000 students across nine institutions, including Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Louisiana Monroe and the University of New Orleans.