Board of Regents Chairman Robert Levy announced Monday that Roland Toups, the Board’s longest serving member, resigned.
Toups’ resignation will take immediate effect, according to a news release.
“Mr. Toups is not only a well-respected businessman; he is a powerful force in this state whose leadership and guidance on this board will be greatly missed,” Levy said in the release. “We will work with whoever is appointed to quickly educate them on the vital issues facing postsecondary education in Louisiana so that they can immediately begin contributing to our important efforts.”
Gov. Bobby Jindal also commended Toups’ 14 years of service to board and to the state, saying Toups has been a “tireless leader in reforming our higher education system.”
Toups stepped down after a meeting with Jindal and his chief of staff, according to The Times-Picayune.
The administration now has the opportunity to appoint a minority member to the all-white Board, an issue that has attracted headlines since a lawsuit was filed against the Board on Feb. 14.
Toups was first appointed by former Gov. Mike Foster in March 1997. He was re-appointed in 2003 and in 2009. He also served as Chairman of the Board for a portion of 2003 and in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
 
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Contact Sydni Dunn at [email protected]