Reaction positive to chancellor selection

Kimberly Russell, LSU Eunice’s first woman chancellor and the only female of the final four chancellor candidates, will take over as head of the campus on Sept. 1, and reaction to her selection as chancellor has been positive.
“I’m really, really excited,” Russell said. “I look forward to working with the faculty and staff. LSU Eunice is a special place there in Eunice. I think LSU Eunice will be the premiere two-year campus in the state.”
Russell is currently in the transition phase of moving to the area and being on campus more often prior her September full-time start date, and a welcoming reception with faculty, staff and students will be hosted for her on campus early this week.
The new chancellor said she plans to spend her first 30 to 60 days on campus getting got 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.”
“I can’t wait to be on campus and look forward to the fall.”
LSU Eunice faculty member Anthony “Tony” Baltakis said he looks forward to working with Russell.
“I liked her most out of all the four candidates,” he said. “They picked the right person in my opinion.”
“I made my views known to the committee.”
Baltakis was one of many faculty members to attend forums hosted during the candidate interview process. He questioned each of the four candidates about including faculty members in campus decisions, and Russell’s response was one of the reasons Baltakis preferred her over the other candidates.
“She made statements about inclusiveness, which I liked, and she wanted to include the faculty in decision making on campus,” Baltakis said. “Those are elements of a successful chancellor. She made an impression on me.”
“Another reason I like her is because of her fundraising. She raised a lot of money for her university while she was working in Tyler, Texas. If she can raise even 50 percent of what she raised there, that would be good news for the university and the Eunice area.”
Baltakis also supported Russell’s appointment because of her positive comments about the campus’ faculty.
“She’s got good people to use, and if you ask, people will volunteer,” he said. “I am vice chair of St. Landry Economic Development, and I would like to bring her to a meeting and introduce her to everybody – help her get into the community and the parish of St. Landry.”
Patricia Brown, a reference librarian on the campus, also attended all four forums, and she was impressed with Russell’s community outreach experience.
“I expect that’s why she was chosen,” Brown said. “In Louisiana we all know this is crucial. Her educational experience is good, too. She worked her way up the ladder teaching in Texas.”
“All four of the candidates were qualified and enthusiastic about the position. I think Russell will increase or improve LSU Eunice’s standing in the area and help us to continue our mission to serve the students and the community.
Brown said she was glad the decision was made quickly, and that she looked forward to working with the new chancellor this fall.
State Rep. Mickey Guillory, who attended school at the campus as did his two children, was unable to make the candidate forums due to legislative duties in Baton Rouge, but he said he was able to learn about Russell through a previous news article in The Eunice News.
“It looks like she is very well experienced, and that she has lots of experience with college facilities,” Guillory said. “It seems to me that the selection made by the board was a good decision. The board is experienced, and they know what the college needed. I look forward to working with her.”
“I am proud of LSU Eunice, and I plan to do what I can to support LSU Eunice in the future.”