Cal State Long Beach president appointed to lead LSU

Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander was appointed Wednesday to lead Louisiana State University.

The LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the selection of Alexander to become president of the 10-institution LSU system and chancellor of the 30,000-student LSU A&M; campus in Baton Rouge. The two positions are expected to be combined under the title of president of LSU.

Alexander, 49, had been recommended by a search committee as the consensus candidate earlier this month. The LSU position includes a salary of $550,000, as well as housing and a car allowance.

“My tenure as president of Cal State Long Beach has prepared me to assume the role as head of the Louisiana State University system,” Alexander said in a statement. “The challenges facing LSU are similar to those in California and elsewhere. Universities throughout the nation are struggling to serve more students while managing declining state revenues. At the same time, leaders in the field of higher education know the burden is on us to demonstrate that the public’s money is well spent.”

Alexander became president of the Long Beach campus in 2006 and partnered with the Long Beach Unified School District and Long Beach City College to increase the number of area students attending college and improve their readiness.

Research and private funding increased during his tenure and he presided over the construction of a $110-million, state-of-the-art Hall of Sciences as well as other projects at the Long Beach campus, which drew more than 80,000 applications for the fall 2013 term.

“King’s work with the federal government, along with his advocacy efforts to preserve access for students in California, is particularly commendable,” said California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White. “I am grateful for President Alexander’s service and wish him the best in his next endeavor.”

Alexander is expected to remain in Long beach through June before assuming the LSU post. An interim president will be appointed in Long Beach preceding a national search for a replacement, officials said.

A Louisville, Ky. native, Alexander was previously president of Murray State University. He received a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin.

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carla.rivera@latimes.com