Dr. Mitchell Adrian Selected McNeese Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management

Dr. Mitchell Adrian has been selected to serve as provost and vice president for academic affairs and enrollment management at McNeese State University. Adrian has been serving in the interim role since August 2017. His appointment is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

In 2007, Adrian joined McNeese as dean of the College of Business. During his tenure as business dean, Adrian raised over $340,000 in grants, gifts and student scholarships.

He is also a professor of management in the college, where he has held the J.P. Morgan Chase Bank Endowed Professor of Business Research. Adrian has received numerous other university awards for research, leadership, teaching and student advising.

“Dr. Adrian is an experienced administrator and professor who is committed to enhancing our existing academic and student life programs as well as launching new and innovative initiatives that ensure student success at McNeese,” said McNeese President Dr. Daryl Burckel. “As a fellow McNeese alumnus, he shares my vision to position McNeese as the first choice for students, employers and donors. Our mission for this great university is to change lives and bring value to Southwest Louisiana through excellence with a personal touch.”

“As I continue in the provost and vice president for academic affairs and enrollment management position, I look forward to working with faculty and campus leaders to educate future generations of McNeese students,” said Adrian. “We are focused on creating a campus culture that values and promotes superior academic instruction, opportunities for undergraduate research and career-related internships, mentoring and student life activities that will position McNeese graduates to be effective and responsible leaders in their communities and in the world.”

The Lake Charles native and LaGrange High School graduate received his Doctor of Business Administration degree in management from Mississippi State University in 1996, his Master of Business Administration degree from Midwestern State University in Texas in 1990 and his Bachelor of Science degree in management from McNeese in 1984.  

Prior to arriving at McNeese, he was an associate professor and chair of the department of management, marketing and information systems at Longwood University in Virginia.

During his years as a faculty member, Adrian wrote numerous articles for publication in refereed journals and proceedings, was a frequent presenter at national conferences and served as a reviewer of journal articles and papers, co-editor of the Journal of Global Good Governance, Ethics and Leadership and an editorial board member of the Journal of Internet Commerce. He is a graduate of the Master Teacher Program at Georgia State University and has accreditation experience with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

He has served as a member or chairman of numerous academic, professional and community boards and committees and as a management consultant for local, state and international businesses.