Chancellor Sean O’Keefe’s job is in jeopardy according to an e-mail sent Monday by a University donor to LSU Board of Supervisors members.
The e-mail, written by Jonathan Martin, chairman of Roy O. Martin Lumber, circulated among business leaders across the state requesting support for O’Keefe. The e-mail, posted to The Advocate’s Web site, alleges LSU System President John Lombardi told O’Keefe he “should be looking for another job.”
Martin said he could not disclose who informed him of the possible resignation request.
“I had a reliable source tell me that there was a move afoot to get rid of the chancellor and that was disturbing to me because we’ve been strong supporters,” Martin told The Daily Reveille.
O’Keefe has not been available for interviews, and a statement issued via e-mail by University spokeswoman Kristine Calongne did not address whether his job is in jeopardy.
“I serve LSU at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors and will continue to serve as long as the Board will allow me the privilege to do so. I love LSU and have given my absolute best to the University. I remain committed to working with any and all constituencies who can assist us in LSU’s forward progression as a nationally recognized, top-tier academic institution,” O’Keefe said in his e-mail statement.
Charles Zewe, LSU system vice president of communication, said he could not comment on matters regarding O’Keefe’s job security or the e-mail sent by Martin.
“We don’t comment on personal matters,” Zewe said. “We have nothing to say about that e-mail. There is nothing productive to be gained from our standpoint.”
Jerry Shea Jr., Board of Supervisors chairman, said Lombardi has been evaluating upper-level administrators at all LSU systems facilities and assessing their accomplishments and potential to achieve specific goals of the system entity they lead. He said he does not have any expectations about what Lombardi’s assessment of O’Keefe may say.
“We consider it a personnel issue, and we consider it something that [Lombardi] is going to make a decision about and let us know what that decision is,” Shea told The Daily Reveille.
Shea said he considers O’Keefe a friend and has been most impressed with O’Keefe’s response to Hurricane Katrina and his ability to quickly form productive administrative structures after the storm.
“It’s not the first time we’ve received correspondence not only about Chancellor O’Keefe, but other people within the system, both positive and negative,” Shea said. “It happens all the time.”
The Board unanimously hired O’Keefe in January 2005. He is currently serving in the fourth year of a five-year contract. He is a former NASA administrator and a New Orleans native.
Martin donated $3 million to Forever LSU in August. The Martin family has a history of providing financial support to multiple facets of the LSU System, including the Tiger Athletic Foundation, LSU-Alexandria and LSU-Eunice.
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First update: LSU donor’s e-mail: System president notifies chancellor to find new job
An e-mail from a large donor to the University alleges Chancellor Sean O’Keefe has been informed by the LSU System that he “should be looking for another job.”
The e-mail, written by Jonathan Martin, chairman of Roy O. Martin Lumber, was circulated among the business leaders statewide.
Martin said in the e-mail, which was posted on The Advocate’s Web site, that LSU System President John Lombardi notified O’Keefe of his need to find a new job.
Martin said in the e-mail that O’Keefe “has done an outstanding job” and removing him from the post of chancellor “will send a blatant negative message to the rest of the world that LSU continues to be about politics and that it has no desire to be a top-50, tier-one school.”
WAFB Channel 9 contacted O’Keefe on Thursday. O’Keefe told WAFB that he “serves at the pleasure of the LSU Board and will continue to do so with 100 percent of my effort as long as they will permit me.”
O’Keefe was hired unanimously by the Board in January 2005. He is a former NASA administrator and a New Orleans native.
Martin donated $3 million to Forever LSU in August.
The Martin family has a history of providing financial support to multiple facets of the LSU System, including the Tiger Athletic Foundation, LSU-Alexandria and LSU-Eunice.
—–Editor’s Note: This story has been amended as more information has become available.
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