LSU Shreveport chancellor retires; provost to fill in on interim basis

LSU Shreveport Chancellor Vincent Marsala is retiring after a 45-year career with the university, including 17 years as chancellor, LSUS announced this morning. “During his years as chancellor, he served with dedication, distinction, and determination notwithstanding the tremendous challenges, financial and otherwise, that he faced during his term of office,” says Interim LSU System President William Jenkins in a prepared statement. Jenkins says he has appointed Paul Sisson, 47, LSUS provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, to serve as interim chancellor until a permanent replacement for Marsala, 76, is named. He adds the process to find Marsala’s successor would get under way with the start of the fall semester in September. Marsala was serving as LSUS dean of continuing education and public service in May 1995 when he was tapped by then–LSU System President Allen Copping to become chancellor, succeeding John Darling, who stepped aside to rejoin the faculty. At the time, the Monroe native was also an elected Caddo Parish commissioner. Marsala and his wife, Carol Ann, plan to make their retirement home in Shreveport. Read more about Marsala’s retirement and Sisson’s interim appointment at the LSUS website here.