Dr. Kedrick Nicholas Named Interim President of McNeese State University 

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors has appointed Dr. Kedrick Nicholas as the interim president of McNeese State University, effective Monday, Nov. 17. Prior to being named interim, Dr. Nicholas served as the senior vice president for student affairs. 

Dr. Nicholas received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from McNeese and his doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

“We are prepared as a team to continue the momentum that we have had, and there will be no change to our approach. We will continue to focus on the recruitment, retention and job placement of the students at McNeese State University,” Nicholas said during the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors meeting. “The strategic plan that was developed under the Rousse administration will remain in place and will continue to be the catalyst of our continued success.” 

As the senior vice president, Nicholas worked closely with the president of McNeese on broad conceptual efforts on campus, university-wide budget management, partnerships with external entities and relationships with governing authorities on the system and state levels.  

As senior vice president of student affairs, Nicholas oversees and provides vision for all aspects of the student affairs at McNeese. His ongoing leadership efforts focus on establishing cohesion, increasing resource allocation efficiency, and effectively meeting the student body’s holistic needs. This is evident in the recent Division of Student Affairs Strategic Plan Nicholas authored using input from students and colleagues.  

Born and raised in New Orleans, Nicholas has been part of the McNeese family since he was recruited to join the football team. During his time as a student-athlete, he earned several defensive honors and was named to the President’s Honor list several times. Nicholas began his career at McNeese in 2005. 

At McNeese, he has also served as dean of student affairs, dean of students, associate dean of students, director of campus life and engagement, assistant dean of student services, coordinator of student activities, and a verification officer in the financial aid office. During the 2023-2024 academic year, he guided an institutional transition at the University of New Orleans as a special assignment from the University of Louisiana System.  

Dr. Nicholas has received numerous awards during his professional career. He was named National Advisor of the Year by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities and received the University of Louisiana System’s Innovation and Inclusion Award and the Dan Seymour Award for Outstanding Service in Student Affairs from the Louisiana Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators.