Applications open for Grambling president
Leon Sanders, vice president of finance and administration at Grambling State University, will act as the person in charge at the university following the resignation of President Willie Larkin.
The University of Louisiana System made the announcement Tuesday. The system is accepting applications and nominations to fill the president's seat at Grambling State University.
READ MORE: Grambling President Larkin resigns
Larkin's resignation is effective June 30, and Sanders begins handling operations July 1. As the person in charge, Sanders will coordinate with the system on all personnel, academic and financial decisions.
The UL System Board of Supervisors will discuss the selection of Grambling's next president at a July 26 meeting in Baton Rouge. The special meeting was called to interview UL System president finalists and will now also provide an opportunity to review applications for the president's position.
Cami Geisman, assistant vice president for communications at UL System, said a new GSU president may be chosen at the meeting.
"We are currently accepting applications as well as nominations," Geisman said. "Depending on the quality of candidates, we hope to do interviews at the July 26 meeting in Baton Rouge with the intention to fill the position of president that day."
When Larkin was selected as GSU president in June 2015 after a multimonth search, the Hollins Group, a search firm, recommended candidates who were then interviewed by a search committee.
Geisman said the UL System is acting quickly in the hopes of having someone in place as close to the start of the fall semester as possible. Since the system is not engaging a third-party firm, Geisman said candidates can be reviewed as applications arrive.
"Grambling State University has experienced an unusual number of leadership changes the past 25 years and the system office, in coordination with the board, is working with urgency to secure the right leader for this exceptional institution," Interim UL System President Dan Reneau said in a statement.
Sanders said the search for a new president is coming at a time when Grambling is facing not only budgetary cuts but affordability issues.
"We have a problem in terms of affordability because we are to a point now where, if we raise our tuition and fees, it would drastically hurt our students' ability to attend Grambling or any institution," Sanders said. "We have 90 percent on financial aid, and you have to be very, very cognizant of the fact that any increase in fees severely hampers their ability to go to school."
Sanders said as the president search moves forward he knows that the Grambling faculty will band together to do what is best for the university.
"I think this is just one of many things we have had to deal with, and we will deal with this transition," Sanders said.
On Tuesday, Larkin issued a farewell statement encouraging the Tiger family to continue to persevere in unity.
"As long as you can focus and believe that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel, the darkness will not overtake you and Grambling State University will continue to stand strong on the shoulders of the faculty, staff, students, alumni and others who hold it so dear," Larkin's farewell message stated.
