Officials say they do not foresee a competition for candidates between the coinciding searches to fill the soon-to-be vacant positions of state commissioner of higher education and University chancellor. “There are two different kinds of jobs,” said Charles Zewe, LSU System vice president for communication and external affairs. Zewe said the commissioner’s role is centered around the state government and affects policy to benefit all the higher-education entities in Louisiana. The University’s chancellor, however, works with the “nuts and bolts” of the day-to-day operation of the University, Zewe said. Zewe said there is no rule preventing applicants to apply for both positions. He said even though the two jobs require different skill sets, he “would be astonished” if at least some applicants did not apply for both positions. Kevin Hardy, Louisiana Board of Regents communication director, said he does not foresee competition between the two searches. He said the individuals who fill the positions should have a complimentary relationship allowing them to efficiently work together. “We’re looking for someone who has the academic qualifications, and certainly someone who has been involved in higher education policy at the state level,” Hardy said of the search for a new commissioner. “We’re looking for someone who has experience in both state legislative affairs … and someone who knows and understands about national policy issues.” Hardy said Chancellor Sean O’Keefe’s mixed background in government agencies and academia make O’Keefe a candidate “certainly worthy of consideration.” O’Keefe said he does not plan to apply for the state commissioner of higher education position. “I’m touched to think anybody would think I can serve in that role or any role of that public service prominence,” O’Keefe told The Daily Reveille. “That said, public service is something I spent most of my life doing. There are a number of opportunities I want to look at, and they might be a little bit different field than that.” O’Keefe resigned as chancellor Jan. 19 and will relinquish his administrative duties to acting chancellor William Jenkins on Feb 1. O’Keefe has served in the position for three years. Jenkins has served as both chancellor of the University and System president. Joseph Savoie has severed the state as commissioner of higher education since 1996 and recently announced his intent to succeed Ray Authement as president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Authement has held the post since June 1974. Hardy said the Board of Regents is currently in the process of hiring a national search firm to assist with the task of finding a new commissioner. “The only time schedule we have is to get somebody in place by the time the [current] commissioner moves,” Hardy said. “I would say May is a reasonable estimate of when the position will be filled.” Zewe said LSU System President John Lombardi is currently talking with interest groups to collect the names of individuals to serve on the committee. The state commissioner of higher education leads the Louisiana Board of Regents which oversees the University of Louisiana, Louisiana State University, Southern University and Louisiana Community and Technical College systems. “Obviously the decisions the commissioner of higher education makes impact LSU and all the other systems,” Hardy said. “But those decisions are never made in a vacuum. The commissioner always has a working relationship with the various systems.”
—-Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]