During a forum on Thursday, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost candidate Bobby Schnabel detailed his potential plans for the University that emphasize diversity, collaboration across disciplines and more investment in Louisiana culture.
Schnabel hails from Indiana University, where he has been the dean of the School of Infomatics since 2007. His previous tenure was at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he held multiple positions for more than 30 years.
Throughout the forum, Schnabel continually mentioned his passion for diversity. He spoke briefly of his personal accomplishments in the realm, including the creation of academic programs for women and collaboration with Dillard University in New Orleans, a historically African-American institution.
“Results from working in a diverse environment are almost always better,” he said.
In regard to diversity, Schnabel said the University has potential to become more attractive to international students.
He said India has been a source of interest for universities as an increasing need for higher education goes unmet in the country. Louisiana has the resources to attract students from India, China, Brazil and other South American countries, he said.
Schnabel mentioned a correlation between the University’s strong coastal research and the need for it in countries like India.
The coastal field was only one of the fields in which Schnabel said he sees potential for expansion. He already sees potential for multidisciplinary collaboration in the coastal, regional, energy and computation and technology fields at LSU.
Much of his research has been in more scientific fields, but Schnabel said arts and humanities have always been a priority to him since he spent his undergraduate years at Dartmouth College.
“I’m old fashioned, but I strongly believe in arts and humanities in higher education,” he said.
He said although he agrees with the increasing national mindset that stronger emphasis should be placed on economic development and entrepreneurial vocations in higher education, it doesn’t mean arts and humanities cannot be incorporated.
Arts and humanities are essential for creating leadership skills, high potential and well-rounded education for students, he said.
Schnabel only spoke briefly on the challenges currently faced by the University, notably the decrease in state and federal support.
He said decreasing state support is a nationwide problem that will most likely continue, and federal support through research grants will remain “steady at best.”
The challenge will be keeping the potential for rising tuition costs in proportion with the quality of education students receive at the University, he said.
Schnabel said he will not implement new programs if he secures the second-highest position at the University, but instead build upon initiatives that are already in place, like Flagship 2020.
Schnabel has been in Baton Rouge since Wednesday evening and will continue touring campus and meeting with different individuals and organizations today.
The three remaining candidates for the job will hold forums March 5, 7 and 9.
 
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Contact Brian Sibille at [email protected]