The 16-member Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System selected Micheal “Randy” Moffett to serve as the new UL system president. Moffett is the seventh president of the largest public university system in Louisiana.

“I am extremely honored and pledge to do everything I can to be successful and help the (UL) system be successful,” Moffett said.

University President Stephen Hulbert approved of the board’s selection.

“I am absolutely delighted to hear that Moffett will be taking the position,” Hulbert said.

Moffett has held different positions in the field of education, beginning as a high school teacher in Jackson Parish and seven years as president of Southeastern Louisiana University.

“I believe he will provide great leadership during his time as president,” Hulbert said.

Moffett earned a bachelor of arts in social studies education from Louisiana Tech University, a master of education in student personnel services from Northwestern State University and a doctorate in educational administration from Louisiana State University.

“I believe the access to success initiative is the best thing our system has done because it puts the focus on students,” Moffett said. “Students and parents in this state have invested in our colleges and universities, and we have an obligation to deliver on that investment by producing more college graduates.”

The UL system was responsible for enrolling nearly 80,000 students in the fall 2007 semester. More than 12,000 graduated at the end of that semester.

The system’s goals by 2012 are to increase the number of graduates in certain areas of study by 2,400, to graduate students within five years, and to track graduates’ success in the workforce.

The University of Louisiana System is composed of eight schools including Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

“I feel that Moffett brings an incredible range of experience to this office,” Hulbert said. “He knows Louisiana very well and the eight universities in the system.