Southern University Names Ralph Slaughter as System President

BATON ROUGE, La.

      The nation’s largest historically Black university system has named Dr. Ralph Slaughter, currently its vice president for administration and management, to lead the system into the future as the new president.

      “I’m a son of Southern and I understand the value of a Southern University degree,” Slaughter told the Southern University board of supervisors after the decision was announced. Slaughter was secretary of the state Department of Revenue and Taxation before coming to Southern, and was also coordinator of the annual Bayou Classic football game against Grambling State University. At the university, he also has been the system deputy vice president for finance and business affairs.

      Slaughter was named one of the “100 Most Influential African American Leaders” in 2005 by Ebony magazine.

      The board chose Slaughter over A. Toy Caldwell-Colbert, a consultant to the president of Howard University.

      Dr. Lester C. Newman, a Southern graduate and president of Mississippi Valley State University, also was a finalist but withdrew just before Slaughter was named.

      A native of Port Allen and an honor graduate of Southern, Slaughter also has a master’s degree in public administration from Louisiana State University and a doctorate in public policy from Southern.

      Dr. Edward R. Jackson, chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus, has been interim system president since longtime president Leon R. Tarver II resigned in June. “He has truly gone beyond the call of duty to keep the university and its credibility intact; and we owe him a debt of gratitude,” board chairman Johnny G. Anderson said of Jackson.

      — Associated Press

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