By Malcolm Butler
It’s official.
University of Louisiana System President Dr. Jim Henderson has been named the 15th president in the history of Louisiana Tech University following a special ULS Board meeting Wednesday night.
Henderson will follow in the footsteps of Dr. Les Guice, who will retire on December 31 following 10 and a half years at the helm of the institution. Henderson will start on January 1.
The board voted unanimously 13-0 to appoint Henderson with three of the ULS Board members not in attendance.
“When Dr. Henderson expressed his interest in this role, the Board explored all available options for this particular circumstance,” said Liz Pierre, Chairman of the ULS Board. “After deliberations and recognizing the talent and characteristics we have witnessed supervising Dr. Henderson the past seven years, it is clear that he is uniquely qualified to serve this lauded institution as it continues toward an even brighter future,”
Henderson voiced his appreciation and excitement about his upcoming role at Louisiana Tech.
“Louisiana Tech is an exceptional institution with global impact,” said Henderson. “My family’s relationship with Tech began more than 80 years ago, in 1941, when my Dad signed to play football for Joe Aillet and continues today as my youngest son just entered his sophomore year. It is an honor to succeed President Guice. I look forward to moving home to North Louisiana to work alongside the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community to lead Tech into its next era of excellence.”
Prior to the board vote, a public session was held which allowed for any questions or comments on the matter. One UL System president spoke on Henderson’s behalf and then board members Steve Davison and Jimmy Clarke each asked a question. There we no questions or comments from the public, not necessarily surprising after Henderson spent 90 minutes in a town hall-type forum on the Tech campus last week.
Davison, a LA Tech alum who is in his third year of his 6-year appointment on the ULS Board, said he felt Henderson will be a strong successor to Guice.
“As an alumnus and resident of the Ruston community, I couldn’t be more excited for Tech’s future,” Davison said. “The university has thrived under Les’ leadership and Jim is poised to build on that foundation which will lead to even more growth and innovation.”
The appointment comes minus a national search, which is the normal process for finding a new president within the UL System. However, with the uniqueness of Henderson’s current position as system president, the board felt said it was the right route to take.
Since Henderson made it public that he was interested in the opening and the board voted to suspend one of its regulations in regards to opening the process up to any candidates, there has been plenty of opponents of the change in policy regarding the process. Henderson answered a number of questions in regards to the topic during the Tech forum last week, explaining the Board’s reasoning and ultimately clarifying it was the Boards position to defend.
Henderson has served for the past seven years as the ULS President after being appointed on Jan. 1, 2017. He served as president at Northwestern Stater University for two years from 2015 through 2017 and was a finalist for the president position at LSU in its last search.
Henderson is a 1994 Northwestern State graduate in journalism and English. He earned his master’s in administration from West Florida and doctorate in management from the University of Maryland-University College.
The Shreveport native has Louisiana Tech ties as his father Clem played football for the Bulldogs under head coach Joe Aillet. He is the first Tech President in more than six decades that doesn’t possess a diploma from the University.
Henderson’s experience in higher education and state government includes serving as chancellor of Bossier Parish Community College for nearly six years before becoming president of Northwestern State. He also served as Senior Vice-President for Career and Technical Education for the entire Louisiana Community and Technical College System.
Henderson was Director of Administration and Workforce Development for the Louisiana Department of Labor from 2001 to 2005 and worked in the private sector in hotel management for 10 years before beginning his service in state government.
The University of Louisiana System governs nine state institutions, including Tech, Grambling State University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Louisiana Lafayette, University of Louisiana Monroe, and the University of New Orleans.
The governor appoints 15 of the 16-member board which includes two members from each congressional district and three at-large members. A student board member is elected annually by the universities’ SGA presidents. Board members serve six year terms.
His wife Tonia is also a Northwestern State graduate who has been engaged in a successful career as an executive in television advertising and sales. They have three children, Reagan, Nicholas and Alexander.
Louisiana Tech University Presidents
- Arthur T. Prescott (1895–1899)
- W. C. Robinson (1899–1900)
- James B. Aswell (1900–1904)
- W. E. Taylor (1904–1905)
- C. E. Byrd (1906–1907)
- John E. Keeny (1908–1926)
- John R. Conniff (1927–1928)
- George W. Bond (1929–1936)
- Edwin Richardson (1936–1941)
- Claybrook Cottingham (1941–1949)
- Ralph L. Ropp (1949–1962)
- F. Jay Taylor (1962–1987)
- Dan Reneau (1987–2013)
- Les Guice (2013–present)
