Wade Rousse named LSU president

(The Center Square) — The LSU Board of Supervisors on Tuesday selected Wade Rousse as the university system’s 29th president and chose James Dalton to serve as system vice president and chancellor, separating roles that had been combined under former President William Tate IV’s administration. The board voted 12-01 for the Rousse–Dalton slate, signaling a shift from presidents with deep academic pedigrees toward a leader with private-sector credentials. Rousse, a Louisiana native who has led McNeese State University since 2019, has pitched himself as a nontraditional change agent who will court industry partnerships and focus on workforce needs.Political insiders said Rousse was favored by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and had strong backing from Board Vice Chair Lee Mallett, a major Landry donor. Board members serve at the governor’s pleasure, and the governor selects the chair.Rousse, a Nicholls State alumnus who earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago, worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and founded an alternative investment firm after co-founding a marine logistics company earlier in his career. In interviews and at a candidate forum, he highlighted turning around enrollment and finances at McNeese and promised a pragmatic, market-minded approach at LSU. “There are two things that truly drive GDP growth — capital and labor,” Rousse said. “We’re doing a pretty good job attracting capital… the question is, are we doing our part on labor — producing a workforce that’s ready immediately and the next generation of scholars?”Rousse succeeds Tate, who left earlier this year for Rutgers University. Rousse said he intends to meet daily with faculty for his first 30 days in office to set priorities and to ask whether vaulting into the ranks of the top 50 public research universities should be a defining goal.While promising to encourage philanthropic giving, Rousse made clear he views corporate partnerships as central to LSU’s funding strategy.“We need to be very creative,” Rousse said, pointing to the influx of industrial investment across Louisiana and arguing LSU should better “monetize” its research and talent pipeline in tandem with employers.The choice drew mixed reaction on campus. Supporters cited Rousse’s executive experience, turnaround messaging and ties to Louisiana industry. Critics — including some students and faculty who addressed the search committee — questioned his limited research record and lack of traditional academic progression, noting that McNeese is a smaller regional institution without LSU’s top research designation. They also raised concerns about perceived political connections and whether he meets several of the search committee’s desired qualifications.Rousse acknowledged the nontraditional path and sought to reassure skeptics. He pledged “full support” for faculty and emphasized that corporate alignment would not supplant academic freedom or research aspirations. “This position will shape what higher education looks like for the next 10 or 15 years,” he said. “I’m humbled by that responsibility.”Dalton, tapped as system vice president and chancellor, will assume a role that restores a two-leader structure for LSU. The Board’s decision to separate the president and chancellor posts marks a return to a governance model supporters say will clarify lines of authority as LSU pursues both research ambitions and statewide workforce missions.Rousse’s biography says he graduated from Nicholls in 1993, entered the marine transportation business and later moved into finance and economics. He joined McNeese’s administration in 2019, holding several roles before becoming president, where he has touted enrollment stabilization and budget improvements.Next steps include contract finalization and transition planning. Tate held a $750,000 per-year contract. Rousse said he wants the Board to set “four or five key goals” against which he can be judged — whether that is research stature, workforce outcomes, philanthropy and partnerships, or student success. “In my mind, this is the biggest position in the world,” he said at the candidate forum. “I’m honored to be part of the process.”