UL Lafayette welcomed Dr. E. Joseph Savoie as its new president Wednesday.
Savoie began his first day as UL Lafayette's sixth president by meeting informally with faculty and staff, Student Government Association officers, deans of the university's colleges and local media representatives. He had lunch with members of University Council, which is composed of the university's vice presidents and other key administrators. Students, faculty and staff also met the new president during an ice cream social held in the Student Union.
Savoie is former Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Louisiana. He succeeds Dr. Ray Authement, who retired after serving as UL Lafayette's president for 34 years.
“ I'm excited about the opportunity to help steer the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as it continues to move ahead, always focused on student success,” Savoie said.
The new president has strong ties to UL Lafayette. Prior to his appointment in 1996 as the state's Commissioner of Higher Education, he served in many roles on the UL Lafayette campus, including vice president for University Advancement, executive director of the Alumni Association, program director for the Union Program Council and student government advisor, as well as an adjunct assistant professor.
He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in education from UL Lafayette and earned a doctor of education in educational leadership and administration from Columbia University's Teachers College in New York.
Savoie was involved in several recent major postsecondary education reforms in Louisiana, including:
• the restructuring of higher education governance;
• creation of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System;
• teacher education and school reform initiatives;
• the state's Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education; and
• the promotion of collaboration within the entire education community.
Under his leadership, financial support for public postsecondary education more than doubled and Louisiana's colleges and universities have become more engaged in addressing Louisiana's economic and social challenges.
Govs. M. J. “Mike” Foster, Edwin Edwards and Kathleen Blanco all tapped him for higher education committees and commissions in their administrations. Savoie was a cabinet member in three governors' administrations - Foster's, Blanco's and Bobby Jindal's.
His regional and national affiliations include the Southern Regional Education Board, the national State Higher Education Executive Officers, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the American Association of School Administrators.
His awards and honors include the 2007 CASE District IV Chief Executive Leadership Award, which was renamed the “Dr. E. Joseph Savoie Chief Executive Leadership Award,” the 2004 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Outstanding Alumnus Award and the 2000 Henry Mason Award, which is presented by the Louisiana Chapter of the American Association of University Professors.
Savoie and his wife, Gail, have a daughter, Jennifer Blaire Saulnier, and a son, Adam Savoie.