Manuel Chosen LSUA Chancellor

Official Chancellor Announcement Release [pdf]

BATON ROUGE - Economist and former business school dean David P. Manuel, Vice President for Academic Affairs at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, today was named Chancellor of Louisiana State University at Alexandria.

LSU System President Dr. John V. Lombardi selected Manuel from among three finalists to lead the 48-year-old campus, succeeding Dr. Robert Cavanaugh, who retired last August, following 13 years as chancellor. Lombardi is expected to submit his choice of Manuel to the LSU Board of Supervisors when the board meets April 24th and 25th in Baton Rouge. Manuel will likely assume his duties as chancellor in mid June.

“Dr. Manuel’s credentials and interviews clearly demonstrated that he has the skills and commitment to help lead LSU-A in the next cycle of its growth and development. The remarkably thorough and conscientious search that involved everyone in the LSU-A Community further testifies to the good fortune we have in attracting Dr. Manuel to LSUA,” said Lombardi.

A native of Thibodaux, La. who grew up in Erath, La., Manuel earned an Associate of Arts degree in Philosophy from Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette, La. in 1967; a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Nicholls State University in 1970; a Master’s in Economics from the University of Mississippi in 1972; and also a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Mississippi in 1975. From 1974 to 1990, Manuel was Professor of Economics and subsequently Dean of what is now the B. I. Moody III College of Business Administration at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Manuel joined St. Mary’s University in 1990 as Dean and Professor of International Business at the Bill Greehey School of Business Administration, a position he held for 10 years before being named the university’s chief academic officer in 2000.

“LSU Alexandria represents a unique opportunity to help build a baccalaureate institution of choice in the United States,” said Manuel. “The State of Louisiana should be very proud of that vision and I’m looking forward to working with the entire faculty, staff, and students of LSUA as well as the LSU System to achieve that goal.”

Planning, budget management and all academic matters were among Manuel’s prime concerns as second in command at St. Mary’s where he lead efforts to expand the university’s international, professional, and study abroad programs.

In a series answers to questions from the LSUA Chancellor Search Committee, Manuel described his management style as “driven by the highest sense of integrity and ethics.” He wrote that he is someone who tries to “optimize the expertise and talents of others.” Manuel said he sought the LSUA chancellorship after he “sensed a call to return to Louisiana so that I could hopefully contribute to its higher education landscape and to the future of the state.”

The 61-year-old economist says that as chancellor he will ensure “all budget decisions drive academic quality and service, that stewardship of scarce resources must underpin all decisions, and that accountability for the success of initiatives will result in achieving the excellence sought in teaching, scholarship and service.”

A French-speaking devoté of Cajun cooking, Manuel is married to the former Betty Coe Cruzen. They are the parents of two children: Edward D., 24, and Robert P., 22.

LSU Alexandria grants both associate and baccalaureate degrees. Established in 1960, the university has an annual budget of approximately $19 million, 250-fulltime faculty and staff, and 2,600 students, primarily serving 10 parishes in Central Louisiana. LSUA offers six baccalaureate degrees including B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Elementary Education, Bachelor of General Studies, Bachelor of Liberal Studies (business, communication studies, English, history, mathematics, psychology and theatre majors), B.S. in Mathematics and B.S. in Psychology.