On Friday, Feb. 27, the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors selected Ramesh Kolluru as the next president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
In an email to the University, Kolluru expressed his gratitude for support he received throughout the selection process. He continued on, looking toward the future of the University and its status as a Carnegie R1 institution. He also addressed the budget issues faced by the University. He said the work to address the deficit will continue “thoughtfully and responsibly.”
“This is a moment of transition and one of opportunity,” Kolluru said. “I am grateful to serve and work alongside each of you as we continue to strengthen and advance UL Lafayette for our students and for Louisiana.”
He was selected as the sole finalist for consideration following a day of interviews with faculty, staff, students and community leaders and a second day of interviews with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Presidential Search Committee across Feb. 23 and 24, respectively. As the finalist, Kolluru had a special meeting with the UL Board of Supervisors on Feb. 27.
Ahead of his appointment, in a Thursday meeting with the UL System Board, Kolluru asked the board to approve the sale of five properties owned by the University in an effort to close the remaining $12 million of the $50 million deficit revealed last year.
According to the Acadiana Advocate, the board unanimously approved the decision. The properties include a 600-acre experimental research farm in St. Martinville, a 50-acre ecology center near Carencro, a residential home near UL’s research park campus, a small, empty lot near the main campus and a fraternity house near UL’s sports and entertainment plaza.
The University will seek further approval from the Louisiana Legislature’s House and Senate natural resources committees for the sale of each property before making the sale public and conducting an auction.
Kolluru said the University is expected to end the fiscal year without a deficit.
Kolluru was considered the frontrunner for the presidential position since stepping up as interim president in November 2025. During the public comment portion of the inaugural presidential search committee meeting, several speakers took the opportunity to endorse Kolluru, citing his history with the University.
Before becoming interim president, Kolluru was the University’s vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic development since 2013. Under his leadership, the University established three national research centers and obtained R1 status. His connection to the University extends further as he received his master’s degree from UL Lafayette and worked as a tenured professor in the School of Computing and Informatics.