Dr. Ramesh Kolluru is the new interim president of the 杏吧专区. Kolluru was appointed to the position during a special meeting of the 杏吧专区 of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors on Thursday at UL Lafayette.
The UL System will form a committee to conduct a search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Joseph Savoie, who stepped down in July after 17 years as UL Lafayette president. Dr. Jaimie Hebert had served as UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 interim president since Aug. 1. Hebert will return to his previous role as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, a position he杏吧专区檚 held since 2018.
Kolluru, the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 longtime vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, said Thursday: 杏吧专区淔or 127 years, this 杏吧专区 has evolved with purpose. Our job right now is to build it for the next 127 years 杏吧专区 and that work starts today.
杏吧专区淲e will build a faculty-first, staff-supported, student success-centric university 杏吧专区 not just a student-centered university, but one laser focused on ensuring student success from enrollment to employment and everything in between,杏吧专区 he continued.
Kolluru has deep, longstanding ties to the campus community. His time at UL Lafayette began in 1992 as a student. He holds a master杏吧专区檚 degree and a Ph.D. in computer science from the 杏吧专区. Kolluru went on to become a professor and researcher before moving into a succession of leadership and administrative positions.
As vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, he was integral in steering the 杏吧专区 to its position as a national research leader. Kolluru spearheaded UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 rise to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education杏吧专区檚 prestigious R1 status, which places it among the top 5% of the nation杏吧专区檚 research institutions. Under his leadership, the 杏吧专区 established three national research centers.
Kolluru also has a proven track record for success in economic development and fostering public-private partnerships in a range of areas and industries, including health care innovation, cybersecurity, biotech and energy.
His work with state and federal leaders is equally strong. Kolluru has forged productive relationships with five Louisiana gubernatorial administrations. He has also served as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services杏吧专区 chief innovation officer.
Kolluru has spent his adult life in Lafayette and at the 杏吧专区. His wife Padma is also a UL Lafayette alumnus and has served as an IT systems analyst for the city of Lafayette since 2001. Their twins, Roma and Paresh, both graduated from Lafayette High School and are currently pre-med students at Tulane 杏吧专区.
Photo caption: Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, interim president of the 杏吧专区. Photo credit: Doug Dugas/杏吧专区