SOUTHEASTERN SEARCH COMMITTEE ADVANCES FIVE SEMIFINALISTS

The Southeastern Louisiana University Presidential Search Committee selected five semifinalists to interview for the school’s top post.

“The search committee has fulfilled the first part of its mission by narrowing the field to a group of semifinalists with specific qualifications to lead Southeastern Louisiana University,” Committee Chair and System President Jim Henderson said. “We look forward to meeting the candidates next week and recommending finalists to the UL System Board.”

The semifinalists are:

• Joseph Odenwald, President, Southwestern Michigan College
• Mary Parker, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Associate Provost, University of Florida 
• Eric Summers, Vice President for Student Affairs, Southeastern Louisiana University 
• Sebastian van Delden, Dean, School of Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering, The College of Charleston
• William Wainwright, Chancellor, Northshore Technical Community College

The committee will interview the semifinalists on Southeastern’s campus next week with opportunities for student and campus community involvement. The next Southeastern president will be selected by the full Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System at a special meeting April 27.

“I’d like to thank those individuals who showed interest in this position for their willingness to engage in this process,” UL System Board Chair Liz Pierre said. “I look forward to interviewing the semifinalists in Hammond next week.”

Chairing the Southeastern Louisiana University Presidential Search Committee is UL System President and CEO Jim Henderson as a non-voting member. Voting members are Southeastern Faculty Senate President Erin Horzelski and UL System Board Members Elizabeth Pierre, Jimmy Clarke, Brad Stevens, Lola Dunahoe, Jo Lethermon, Al Perkins, Julie Stokes, and student member Ethan Estis.

Non-voting members are Southeastern Foundation President Toby Cortez, Community Representative Louis Nick Joseph, Southeastern Alumni Association President Stephanie Stafford Kropog, Southeastern Foundation Board Member Wallace Lewis, Southeastern SGA President Baileigh Picou, Community Representative Carla Tate, and Southeastern Athletic Foundation Chairman Allen Waddell.

All information regarding the search, including a video of today’s meeting, is posted at ulsystem.edu/southeastern-search.