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Louisiana State University announced this week its hiring of a current member of University of Alabama’s administration. James Dalton, UA’s current executive vice president and provost, has been hired on as the executive vice president of the LSU System and chancellor of the flagship A&M campus in Baton Rouge, according to a recent news release. In his new role Dalton will “provide strategic leadership for academic excellence and student success in alignment with system-wide priorities,” according to LSU’s release. “This new structure puts leadership closer to the classroom and the lab where our mission truly lives,” said LSU President Wade Rousse, Ph.D. “With Dr. Dalton leading the Flagship in Baton Rouge and overseeing the AgCenter, the LSU Health Centers in New Orleans and Shreveport as well as Pennington Biomedical Research Center, we’re ensuring the Flagship stays focused on students and faculty while driving innovation that benefits all of Louisiana and places LSU in the top 50 Research Universities.” At UA, Dalton oversees 13 colleges and academic divisions with more than 2,000 faculty, 4,500 staff, and 40,000 students and an academic budget exceeding $1.2 billion, according to the release. “I was drawn to LSU by its clear academic mission and the pride this community takes in scholarship that impacts Louisiana and the world,” Dalton said. “Together, we will expand research, enhance student success, and modernize academic programs, building on unprecedented success to prepare our graduates to lead the future of this state.” Dalton came to UA in August 2020 after serving as dean of the pharmacy college at the University of Michigan. Under his leadership, the university implemented a new general education core, launched the UA Teaching Academy, reduced class sizes, and achieved a 60% increase in sponsored research awards, according to LSU’s release. Efforts to reach UA representatives for comment on Dalton’s departure or the search to replace him were not immediately successful.
