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More
than 90,000 students attending universities throughout Louisiana will welcome their
new leader in 2024, who says he will put students first in all of his major
decisions.
Rick Gallot, 57, will succeed outgoing University of
Louisiana System's President Dr. Jim Henderson at the end of the year.
Dr. Henderson will fill a presidential vacancy at Louisiana
Tech University in Rustin, LA.
Rick Gallot (Photo: UL System)
Gallot served as president at Grambling University in Grambling,
Louisiana, which is roughly 300 miles north of New Orleans. Gallot, who is
African American, was appointed by the Board of Supervisors for the University
of Louisiana System unanimously to replace Dr. Henderson’s position as UL System president.
“[The students] will always be our north star. Everything
that we do will always start with how this impacts and benefits our students.
It’s a philosophy that I’ve used at Grambling,” Pres. Gallot told AC Phoenix during an
exclusive interview.
According to a news release, the Board of Supervisors for
the UL System touted Gallot’s record at Grambling for boosting enrollment and
improving the school’s financial standing.
“Rick’s
long career of servant leadership to our state prepared him well for this
role,” Board Chair Liz Pierre said.
“After
thoughtful consideration, the Board believes President Gallot is best
positioned to lead the University of Louisiana System to new heights in the
coming years,” Pierre added.
“As they looked within the system for a sitting campus
president, they considered the fact that Grambling was the last in
UL System in terms of its fiscal health. We’ve gone from ninth to tie for
second…we’ve gone from the very bottom to second regarding the fiscal health
score,” Gallot said.
Gallot
will lead nine institutions and more than 90,000 students. He says he will bring
some of his methods to success at Grambling into his new role.
Loida Lewis (Photo: Facebook/LoidaNicholasLewis)
Loida Lewis quote on RFL, and transition, book - "Why Should Guys Have All the Fun"
Gallot Is a Believer in the Reginald F. Lewis Scholars
Program
The University of Louisiana System
Reginald F. Lewis (RFL) Scholars Program is named after business pioneer and
philanthropist Reginald F. Lewis. Lewis was the first African American to close
an overseas billion-dollar buyout deal. He also acquired 64 companies in 31
countries, as chairman and CEO of TLC Beatrice International, the company
amassed sales of over $1.8 billion annually, making it the first Black-owned
business to generate a billion dollars in annual sales. Lewis died in January
1993 at just 50 years of age, but his legacy continues with future generations,
including the students participating in the UL System's scholarship program
that bears his namesake.
“His model
and his life set a stage for so many others who come from less fortunate
situations to know they can achieve whatever they desire and wherever their
minds take them,” said former UL System Board Chairman James Carter, Esq.
The widow of
Reginald F Lewis, Loida Nicolas Lewis, recognizes the current and potential
impact of the Scholars program. “As we talk about bridging the gap between
those who are educated and those who are not, we must remember that America is
for everyone - so I encourage all to give to this program because it will
create such a wave that when we start, others will follow,” Mrs. Lewis said.
The Universities of Louisiana System Reginald F. Lewis Scholars Program enhances the collegiate experience of black male students.
Find out how you can support this program.
Learn more
The Scholars Program is a
full-tuition scholarship geared toward students with proven academic prowess
yet may also lack the financial means to absorb the full costs of a college
education. The program spans three years and provides unique education opportunities,
service-learning projects, study abroad opportunities, mentoring
opportunities from professional businesses, and co-curricular experiences. Each
of the nine universities within the state selects two students to participate
in the RFL Scholars Program each year, creating a cohort of 18 members.
“It’s important for all of our students to have an
opportunity for experiences that allow them to grow not just in the classroom
but in life,” Gallot said of the RFL Scholars Program.
This past Spring, many of the RFL Scholars traveled to Paris,
France, for an insightful study abroad opportunity.
“When I think about the students’ part of the Reginald F.
Lewis Scholars Program, to fly internationally is a first-generation thing for many
of these students. These are students who didn’t even have a passport or, in
some instances, have never flown before,” Gallot said.
Gallot's predecessor said of the RFL Scholars Program, “The
Scholars are poised to become the next leaders of our great state and beyond.
Their success knows no bounds,” UL System President and CEO Dr. Jim Henderson
said. “We are so proud of our Scholars and so appreciate those who are sowing
into their success—campus facilitators, corporate partners, state lawmakers,
nonprofit organizations, and individual donors.”
“The
Regionald F. Lewis Scholars Program provides students from a wide array of
diverse backgrounds in need of financial assistance such an amazing opportunity
to grow in ways they may not be able to otherwise,” Dr. Tanya Wiley-Brown tells the AC Phoenix.
Dr. Wiley-Brown owns and manages WCP Consulting and Communications, LLC, WB & Associates, LLC, WCP Communications, WCP Speaker’s Bureau, and WB Technology Co., LLC. She was part of the brain trust that helped launch the RFL Scholars Program.
The
RFL Scholars Program is funded through corporate and individual donor dollars. $30,000 is invested in each of scholar’s tuition and fees for the year. Gallot praised Mr. Lewis’ wife, Loida
Lewis, who continues to staunchly support the program. However, the RFL program
must continue to raise money in an effort to keep the pipeline of funding
in place for current and future RFL scholars.
"When you think about the investment and philanthropic generosity of individuals like Mr. and Mrs. Lewis and the support they have provided over many years even in Mr. Lewis' death, he continues to make a difference. So, it is imperative that we leverage this support by providing opportunities to UL System's students," Gallot said.
Gallot understands just as the RFL Scholars benefit from
financial and academic support, many other students within the UL System could
also use added support. He says his top priorities will include working to
secure additional funding from state legislators.
“There’s a balancing test you must use. For example, are we keeping
the cost as low as possible? Our current funding model in Louisiana is
approximately 25% of our general funding for all of our institutions, and the other 75% is generated from the campus level,” Gallot added.
Gallot assumes his new position on January 1, 2024.
Reginald F. Lewis Scholars, Paris, France c.2023
In an effort to track his family history the author has skillfully layered the foundation of his roots. Julius Faucette searches for a workable meaning to his life through his ancestor's choices of color. Faucette takes the reader back to the 1700's through research and intimate conversations with one of the oldest members in the family. Eugene Pinnix, who lived to be 104, speaks to the readers through Julius Faucette. 
Fluidly, calmly, insightfully, Faucette guides his readers straight to the intersection of the most serious questions of identity, class and race. The Saga of Madison Brown "A Choice of Color" is a story of race, inheritance and color choices. Not often does one hear of someone of German ancestry passing for black. Through his research, Faucette reveals how individuals in the Madison Brown family were able to make color choices, which ultimately resulted in life changes.
Faucette cleverly shifts between information obtained through general research and his on-going interviews with Eugene Pinnix. By combining both, he is able to educate and entertain his readers. The author deciphers a historic unknown by matching it with known facts obtained through his cousin Eugene. And the contrast between those born in slavery and those born to freedmen is powerful. This historical pictorial will draw readers in.
As the Madison Brown history unfolds, each generation passes down to the next that thirst to make color choices. The struggles of each play out in this candid historical review. In this irresistible story, Faucette resists the urge to paint with a broad brush that will stereotype the races. He utilizes the information obtained from not only his dear cousin, but also documents from local courthouses, state records, etc., to present a complete family picture.
This first edition will take the reader back several generations and the result is that
most will yearn to know their family origins.
We are very excited to share our archive issue newsstand section. Click on the desired thumbnail to view the entire issue. Archived issues are organized on the newsstand by year. At the bottom of the newsstand click on the year to view additional issues.
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