LSUE gets first female chancellor

Kimberly Russell of Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, was selected to replace retiring LSU Eunice Chancellor William J. Nunez III in June after Nunez retired, and Russell became the first female chancellor in the school’s history.
“I am excited and honored to have been selected as the next chancellor of LSU Eunice and to join the LSU family under the leadership of President King Alexander,” Russell said. “LSUE is a wonderful university focused on student access and success, and I’m looking forward to working with the community, business and industry leaders and the talented faculty, staff and students to make it the premier two-year institution in the state!”
Nunez had a career in higher education that spanned 45 years, and the LSU graduate had worked at LSU Eunice for 19 years prior to his retirement.
Russell, formerly the vice president for advancement and external affairs and executive director of the Tyler Junior College Foundation at Tyler Junior College, was announced as the new chancellor June 17 following four individual on-campus forums with Russell and the three other chancellor candidates.
LSU President F. King Alexander said in a news release, “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kimberly Russell to LSU Eunice and the LSU leadership team. Dr. Russell brings with her a wealth of experience in multiple facets of university operations, and we are excited to see her plans implemented for expanding and growing LSUE to help meet the needs of the state.”
LSU conducted a national search for the new chancellor, led by a committee composed of LSUE faculty, staff and leaders from the community.
As chancellor of LSUE, Russell is the chief executive officer of the university and exercises complete executive authority therein, subject to the direction of the Board of Supervisors through Alexander. As the administrative head of LSUE, the chancellor implements educational and administrative policies for the campus.
The chancellor spent her first 30 to 60 days on campus getting to know the campus and the faculty and staff and meeting with them on a regular basis before focusing on growing enrollment and programs.
“I want to know all there is to know,” Russell said. “I want to visit with community leaders, local superintendents and local industry leaders and find out how LSU Eunice can help them meet their needs. I want to develop partnerships with businesses and local industries and launch new programs.”