Dr. Ramesh Kolluru has been named the seventh president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, following a unanimous vote by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors during a special meeting in Baton Rouge on Friday.
“I am deeply grateful to Chairman Mark Romero, President Dr. Rick Gallot and the Board of Supervisors for their trust and confidence,” Kolluru said. “I thank the search committee for their dedication, and I am especially thankful to our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners whose support has meant so much.”
Kolluru has a long history with the University, spanning more than three decades. He first came as a graduate student, later joining as a faculty member, researcher, and senior administrator.
“This University shaped my life and prepared me to serve it in this role,” Kolluru said. “With clarity, discipline and optimism, we will strengthen academics, expand research, support student success, and ensure UL Lafayette continues to provide opportunities for Louisiana.”
UL System President Dr. Rick Gallot said Kolluru’s appointment comes at a critical time. “His deep understanding of the University and disciplined focus on growth will allow UL Lafayette to move confidently into its next chapter,” he said.
Mark Romero, Chair of the UL System Board, highlighted Kolluru’s connection to the campus and community. “He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees here and has grown with this University for over 30 years. The Board has full confidence in his leadership to strengthen UL Lafayette’s reputation, research, and economic impact.”
Kolluru served as interim president since November 2025, where he led efforts to stabilize the University’s finances, implement cost controls, reduce executive salaries, and strengthen operations while safeguarding academics and research. He reorganized student services, launched a mental health task force, and helped secure nearly $25 million in federal funding for research, workforce, and infrastructure priorities.
Before becoming interim president, Kolluru was Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development for more than a decade. During that time, he guided UL Lafayette to achieve Carnegie R1 designation in 2021, reaffirmed in 2024, placing it among the top research institutions in the United States. Under his leadership, research expenditures quadrupled, the University joined the National Academy of Inventors’ Top 100 U.S. Universities for patents, and nationally recognized research centers expanded across multiple fields.
Kolluru holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Osmania University and both a master’s and doctoral degree in computer science from UL Lafayette. He has secured over $120 million in external research funding and has served nationally as chief innovation officer at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and as a member of the FEMA National Advisory Council.
He succeeds Dr. Joseph Savoie, who served as president for 17 years before becoming president emeritus in July 2025.
Kolluru has lived in Lafayette with his wife, Padma, a UL Lafayette alumna, and their twin children, who are currently pre-med students at Tulane University.
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