McNeese Names New Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dr. Frederick “Chip” LeMieux has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs and enrollment management at McNeese State University, according to Dr. Daryl Burckel, McNeese president. LeMieux has been serving in the interim role since July 2021. His appointment has received approval from the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. 

“Dr. LeMieux is an outstanding educator who is well known for his research and scholarly contributions,” Burckel said. “He is an effective and innovative leader and administrator with a deep understanding and commitment to McNeese and Southwest Louisiana.”

LeMieux received his doctorate, Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in agriculture from Louisiana State University. His area of expertise is non-ruminant nutrition, swine production and livestock behavior.

“I am honored to continue to serve McNeese with Dr. Burckel and our senior leadership team,” says LeMieux. “The academic deans, faculty and support staff are dedicated to our vision to be the first choice for Southwest Louisiana and to our mission to change lives.”

LeMieux – a professor of agricultural sciences – will continue to serve as dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. He also served as director and department head of the Harold and Pearl Dripps School of Agricultural Sciences at McNeese where he oversaw teaching and outreach programs, research at three university farms and a meat processing facility that provide hands-on experience for students and a national championship university rodeo team.

Before coming to McNeese in 2002, LeMieux was a research associate with the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station in Baton Rouge, supervising the daily operations of the swine research farm and working with scientists, students and industry professionals conducting nutrition, reproduction and behavior studies.

He has published numerous articles in refereed journals, made presentations at conferences, is a member of several professional organizations and was named a Louisiana Pork All-American.

LeMieux has also obtained over $1.3 million in national, state and local grants for McNeese, that included funds for the acquisition of the 7,350-square-foot Center for Advancement of Meat Production and Processing in Lacassine.

He holds two university patents with McNeese colleague Dr. Mark Merchant for a blood product from the Crocodylian species that could be used as a feed supplement for weanling pigs and poultry hatchlings.

He is also the recipient of the Honorary American FFA Degree by the Future Farmers of America for his support for the next generation of FFA leaders. Under LeMieux’s direction, the College of Agricultural Sciences regularly hosts FFA career and leadership development events and competitions.

LeMieux was one of 18 participants selected for the inaugural class of the University of Louisiana System Management and Leadership Institute, a program created to develop potential executive level professionals from within the nine universities of the UL System.