Presidential search committee advances three semifinalists

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Presidential search graphic

Feb. 19, 2026 – Today, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Presidential Search Committee met in Baton Rouge to review applications for the UL Lafayette presidency. The search committee selected three semifinalists to interview in person for UL Lafayette's next president.  

The semifinalists are:  

In-person interviews are scheduled for next week: Monday, Feb. 23, and Tuesday, Feb. 24.  

The UL System will release a detailed interview schedule when it is finalized on the UL Lafayette Presidential Search webpage. In addition to public interviews, candidates will meet with UL Lafayette faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members.  

The search committee's voting members include members of the Board of Supervisors:  

  • Mr. Steve Davison – UL System Board of Supervisors 
  • Mr. Lee Jackson – UL System Board of Supervisors 
  • Mr. Keith Myers – UL System Board of Supervisors 
  • Ms. Maria Nechaeva – UL System Board of Supervisors 
  • Dr. John Noble, Jr. – UL System Board of Supervisors 
  • Mr. Dana Peterson – UL System Board of Supervisors 
  • Mr. Mark Romero – UL System Board of Supervisors 
  • Ms. Kristine Russell – UL System Board of Supervisors 
  • Dr. Leah Orr  – President, UL Lafayette Faculty Senate

Serving as advisory, non-voting members are the following:

  • Dr. Rick Gallot  – Committee Chair, President, University of Louisiana System 
  • Mr. Georges Antoun – Member, UL Lafayette Foundation Board and Representative, UL Lafayette College of Engineering 
  • Ms. Kimberly Billeaudeau – President, UL Lafayette Staff Senate 
  • Senator Gerald Boudreaux – Louisiana State Senate, District 24 
  • Mr. Jake Delhomme – UL Lafayette Alumnus and Former NFL Quarterback 
  • Representative Julie Emerson – Louisiana House of Representatives, District 39 
  • Mr. Ryan Furby – UL Lafayette Foundation Board Member 
  • Mr. Bruce Greenstein – Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health 
  • Representative Dustin Miller – Louisiana House of Representatives, District 40 
  • Ms. Onyeka Nwaezeapu – President, UL Lafayette Student Government Association 
  • Ms. Allyson Pharr – Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Acadian Ambulance 
  • Dr. Kip Schumacher – Founder, Schumacher Group/Healthcare Executive 

For more details on the UL Lafayette presidential search, visit the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Presidential Search Webpage on the UL System website.  

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