Matt Lee, who has served as the interim dean of the College of Agriculture and vice president for agriculture since August 2022, will remain in those offices as the official head, according to a university announcement Tuesday morning.
Lee, once a tenure-track professor at Mississippi State University, has served in a variety of administrative roles at LSU, including interim executive vice president and provost, vice provost for academic programs and support services, and senior associate vice president for research. 
Agriculture is a key focus area of LSU President William F. Tate’s academic agenda. 
“We stand committed to the pursuit of becoming the nation’s leading agricultural university, and Dr. Lee’s vision and leadership puts us in even better position for such a competitive gain,” Tate said in the email announcement Tuesday.
Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, said in a statement he had “the utmost confidence” that Lee will “be an excellent vice president and dean for agriculture.”
“He is a dedicated public servant and an extraordinary leader who desires to improve and grow agriculture in Louisiana,” Schexnayder said.
Lee earned his doctorate from LSU in 1999 and is a sociologist by training, according to his university biography.