Joseph Bouie Jr. has been named chancellor of his undergraduate alma mater, Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), a historically Black educational institution in Louisiana. He is slated to begin his position on August 1.
According to the most recent federal data, SUNO enrolls nearly 1,800 undergraduate students, 89 percent of whom are Black. The university also has a graduate population of roughly 300 students.
Currently a Louisiana state senator, Dr. Bouie previously served as chancellor of SUNO, but was dismissed two years into his tenure, according to a report from the Louisiana Illuminator. He has served as a state senator since 2020, spending the prior six years as a state representative. During that time, he had a stint as chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. Upon the announcement of his new appointment, Dr. Bouie told the Louisiana Illuminator, he intends to resign his senate seat “at the appropriate time.”
“SUNO raised me — actually, it saved my life,” said Dr. Bouie. “The legacy of this institution is critical to not only this region but to the nation. I am grateful to have this opportunity to work with the SUNO family.”
A former social work professor, Dr. Bouie received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from SUNO, a master of social work degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, and a Ph.D. in administration and planning from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia.
