NCAA President Mark Emmert will be speaking at the Business Education Complex Auditorium today at 7 p.m.
Emmert will be named the first Brian and Barbara Haymon Distinguished Visiting Professor. He will be at the University for three days discussing leadership. Emmert will be teaching three honors classes, as well as giving a public lecture titled “Leadership in Challenging Times” and a question and answer session for honor students.
Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College Dean Jonathan Earle said Emmert’s leadership discussion can pertain to the current presidential election, athletics and how to lead a university amid budget cuts.
Emmert served as the University’s chancellor from 1999 to 2004 before leaving to become president at his alma mater, the University of Washington.
Earle said during those years, the University was committed to academics and the idea for a nationally-regarded Honors College was formed.
“[When he left], a lot of people looked back on his tenure here and said that was a really great time for LSU academics and sports,” Earle said. “Our Honors College on campus, the Ogden Honors College, wouldn’t be what it is today were it not for Mark Emmert.”
Earle said this event fits for the Honors College because it lacks a faculty.
Emmert was involved in the hiring of former LSU football head coach Nick Saban in 1999. Before Emmert served as chancellor, the football team’s graduation rate was among the lowest and significantly improved to become one of the highest before he left the University.
As NCAA president, he’s championed greater support for student-athlete wellness and academic success, prioritizing academics, health, well-being and fairness as the NCAA’s top initiatives, according to a news release.
Earle invites all students to attend the public lecture event, which will be followed by a public question and answer session.