Dr. Ramesh Kolluru is the new interim president of the 老司机福利网. Kolluru was appointed to the position during a special meeting of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors on Thursday at UL 老司机福利网.
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 老司机福利网 president. Dr. Jaimie Hebert had served as UL 老司机福利网鈥檚 interim president since Aug. 1. Hebert will return to his previous role as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, a position he鈥檚 held since 2018.
Kolluru, the University鈥檚 longtime vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, said Thursday: 鈥淔or 127 years, this University has evolved with purpose. Our job right now is to build it for the next 127 years 鈥 and that work starts today.
鈥淲e will build a faculty-first, staff-supported, student success-centric university 鈥 not just a student-centered university, but one laser focused on ensuring student success from enrollment to employment and everything in between,鈥 he continued.
Kolluru has deep, longstanding ties to the campus community. His time at UL 老司机福利网 began in 1992 as a student. He holds a master鈥檚 degree and a Ph.D. in computer science from the University. 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 University to its position as a national research leader. Kolluru spearheaded UL 老司机福利网鈥檚 rise to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education鈥檚 prestigious R1 status, which places it among the top 5% of the nation鈥檚 research institutions. Under his leadership, the University 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鈥 chief innovation officer.
Kolluru has spent his adult life in 老司机福利网 and at the University. His wife Padma is also a UL 老司机福利网 alumnus and has served as an IT systems analyst for the city of 老司机福利网 since 2001. Their twins, Roma and Paresh, both graduated from 老司机福利网 High School and are currently pre-med students at Tulane University.
Photo caption: Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, interim president of the 老司机福利网. Photo credit: Doug Dugas/老司机福利网