McNeese Presidential Semifinalists to Visit Campus April 16 and 17

Dear McNeese Community,  

The Presidential Search Committee met last week to review applicants and select semifinalists to bring to campus. Those four semifinalists are: 

• Andy Benoit, Jr., Vice President of Enrollment Management, Texas A&M University  
• Shadow Robinson, Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, University of Arkansas  
• Wade Rousse, Executive Vice President, McNeese State University  
• Allen Vital, Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Southern University System 

The Committee needs your help at this next step in the search process. Each candidate is coming to campus April 16 to meet with you—faculty and staff, students, and alumni/community leaders—before their Search Committee Interviews the following day. We hope you will attend these meetings as your schedule allows to get a sense of how these candidates might lead McNeese and submit your comments to inform the Committee.  Visit ulsystem.edu/mcneese-search/mcneese-interview-schedule for the full schedule. 

After completing interviews with all the semifinalists, the Search Committee will meet at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17 to select finalists. These finalists will then be invited to Baton Rouge to interview with the full Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System April 25. The Board will select McNeese’s next president at that meeting.  

It has been a true pleasure working with the McNeese community and embracing your unique needs throughout this search process. The semifinalists we bring to you have diverse experience but consistent talent. I look forward to reviewing your feedback. 

Sincerely,  

Rick Gallot  
UL System President and CEO