Southern University announced Thursday the names of six presidential candidates who are being considered to lead the public, historically Black university system.
The six semifinalists will be invited to interview with the search committee in person, with a proposed date of Oct. 7, committee chair Jason Hughes said.
“They bring a wide range and diversity of experience,” Hughes said. “We’re very excited to continue this process moving forward.”
The candidates are:
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Brian Bridges, senior adviser at education policy consulting firm Whiteboard Advisors and former secretary of higher education for the state of New Jersey
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John Belton, district attorney for the Third Judicial District Court of Louisiana, encompassing Lincoln Parish and Union Parish
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Jaffus Hardrick, former president of Florida Memorial University
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Roscoe Jones, former dean of Drake University Law School
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Larissa Littleton-Steib, chancellor of Delgado Community College
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Willie Smith, chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College
The search committee originally planned to recommend finalists to the Board of Supervisors in May, with a new president expected to be in place by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. Hughes said over 60 people expressed interest in the position.
“Our charge was to get this right,” Hughes said. “We have been very deliberate, very intentional, and we’re going to continue to take our time to ensure that we get it right.”
He said the decision for a start date for the new president will be left with the Board of Supervisors.
TM2 Executive Search, a firm that specializes in working with HBCUs, has led the process. The firm presented information on the job prospects to the search committee during executive session on Thursday. The committee deliberated in executive session for more than three hours before reconvening the public meeting.
New Orleans city council member Jason Hughes listens to public comments during a city council meeting in City Hall in New Orleans, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. Hughes serves as chair of the Southern University presidential search committee.
The next president will replace the interim system leader, Orlando McMeans, former chancellor of the Southern University Ag Center. McMeans took over for former President Dennis Shields at the beginning of the year after the board announced Shields would depart last November — news that came as a surprise to many Southern students and alumni.
Southern’s board has said it is looking for a business-focused leader who will bring in more federal dollars and industry partnerships. In February, the search committee discussed the possibility of “nontraditional” candidates.
Members agreed to consider prospective presidents who don’t have the highest level of degree that can be earned in their particular field, also known as a terminal degree. All six semifinalists have a PhD, doctorate in education, or a law degree.
“I’m looking for a person who has an educational background that’s inextricably intertwined with business,” Southern University Board of Supervisors chair Tony Clayton said last year. “To operate this system, we need a more general philosophy in terms of moving this school to a higher level.”
