Seven presidents have guided UL Lafayette’s growth

When Dr. Ramesh Kolluru became the seventh president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in February, he continued a long tradition of leadership shaped by deep ties to the institution.

Five of the University’s presidents — Lether Edward Frazar, Clyde L. Rougeou, Ray P. Authement, E. Joseph Savoie and Kolluru — earned degrees from the institution they would later lead. The first president, Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens, was appointed in 1900, three years before then-Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute graduated its first students. 

Several presidents also spent significant portions of their careers at the University before assuming its top leadership role. Fletcher, Rougeou, Authement, Savoie and Kolluru all served as faculty members or senior administrators before becoming president.

Below are brief biographies of the University’s seven presidents across its 127-year history.

Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens (1900–1938)
Stephens was appointed in 1900 to lead the newly established Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute. A LSU graduate who later earned graduate degrees from New York University, Stephens built the institution from the ground up — overseeing construction of its first buildings, expanding the curriculum and establishing the academic foundation for its future. During his 38-year tenure, the institute began granting bachelor’s degrees and developed traditions that continue to shape the University today.

Lether Edward Frazar (1938–1940)
Frazar, who graduated from SLI with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1928, was the University’s second president. As president, he oversaw significant campus expansion, including construction of Mouton, Broussard, and Hamilton halls and Stephens Memorial Library. He also broadened the academic portfolio by establishing the colleges of Agriculture and Engineering and launched the University’s first intercollegiate athletics program and marching band.

Dr. Joel Lafayette Fletcher Jr. (1941–1965)
Fletcher served as the University’s third president for 25 years. In 1938, Frazar appointed him dean of the College of Agriculture. As president, Fletcher emphasized access to education and support for students, helping many secure employment during World War II so they could continue their studies. Under his leadership, the institution achieved university status in 1960 and adopted the name University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Dr. Clyde L. Rougeou (1966–1974)
Rougeou, a 1936 SLI graduate, spent much of his career at the University before becoming president. After joining the faculty, he later served as dean of the College of Agriculture. During his presidency, enrollment increased by more than 40% and the campus expanded with construction of major facilities including the Student Union, Cajun Field, Maxim Doucet Hall and additions to Edith Garland Dupré Library. Rougeou also strengthened graduate education, overseeing the launch of doctoral programs in 1968.

Dr. Ray P. Authement (1974–2008)
Authement, an SLI graduate who later earned master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics from LSU, began his career at the University as a faculty member. He later served as vice president for Academic Affairs before being named president in 1974. Authement served for 34 years — the longest tenure of any public university president in the United States — guiding the institution through decades of academic, enrollment and research growth. During this presidency, the institution was renamed the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, reflecting its growing national — rather than regional — influence.

Dr. E. Joseph Savoie (2008–2025)
Savoie, a two-time USL graduate who later earned a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Columbia University’s Teachers College, built much of his career at the institution before becoming president. He served for many years in student affairs leadership, was director of the Alumni Association and the University’s first vice president for Advancement. As president, he led the University through a period of major physical and programmatic growth and helped guide UL Lafayette to its 2021 Carnegie R1 classification.

Dr. Ramesh Kolluru (2026– )
Kolluru’s connection to the institution spans more than three decades as a student, faculty member, researcher and senior administrator. Before being named president, he served as vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, helping the University earn and reaffirm its Carnegie R1 designation while expanding research partnerships and industry collaboration. During his time as interim president, he also launched initiatives focused on student success, including the creation of a unified Division of Student Success and a campuswide mental health task force.