Provost G. Eric Skipper: Leading with Vision, Collaboration, and Purpose

Southeastern welcomed Dr. G. Eric Skipper this year as its new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, following a nationwide search approved by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. With a long record of academic leadership—including nine years as provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB)—Skipper brings broad experience in academic administration, research development, institutional planning, and student success initiatives.

During his tenure at USCB, he oversaw all academic units and programs, research, libraries, grants, teaching and learning, planning, analytics, honors programs, and multiple campuses. His leadership helped drive increases in student experiential learning, community engagement, sponsored funding, faculty and student achievements, and institutional rankings. As a professor of Spanish literature and a scholar of higher-education leadership, he brings both disciplinary depth and a collaborative leadership philosophy. Together, these accomplishments illustrate a pattern of forward-thinking leadership that aligns well with Southeastern’s aspirations.

“My leadership philosophy centers on empowering faculty and staff to generate bold ideas and pursue use-inspired research, positioning the university for sustained impact and long-term success. Universities must be intensely collaborative, fostering innovation while maintaining academic excellence,” he said.

That commitment to collaboration is part of what drew him to Southeastern. Reflecting on his decision to join the university, he shared, “I was attracted to Southeastern by what I see as boundless opportunity. It begins with the faculty and staff who have tremendous talent and commitment. The community here is incredibly supportive; they believe in and want the very best for their university. Southeastern is on a positive trajectory. I wanted to be part of that and felt like mine and President Wainwright’s views on higher education meshed.”

He notes that his previous experience as a provost allows him to jump into the role feet first: “This is my second go-round as provost. That has afforded me the experience to come in and begin contributing immediately.” That foundation of experience informs the priorities he has begun to advance at Southeastern.

As he looks toward the future of Academic Affairs at Southeastern, Skipper describes a vision centered on partnership and purpose. “My vision for Academic Affairs is rooted in collaboration—with our faculty, staff, and community partners—to advance Southeastern’s mission to lead the educational, economic, and cultural development of southeast Louisiana.” He emphasizes the importance of uplifting faculty and staff, noting, “Our faculty are the university’s greatest asset and are at the core of our educational mission. We will work to enhance faculty and staff salaries, expand professional development for academic leaders, and elevate the visibility of our talented faculty through new communications and media features.”

His vision builds on the university’s longstanding commitments while positioning it to thrive in a rapidly changing academic landscape.

A central component of his approach is anticipating emerging needs in higher education and preparing Southeastern to meet them. “We will build a technology and AI-enabled vision for Southeastern Online to enhance access and impact for all learners. We will prioritize advising for students beyond 30 hours; new approaches to serving adult learners through Credit for Prior Learning; and the integration of AI and emerging technologies to advance student success, research, and industry engagement.”

Research will also play a critical role in shaping Southeastern’s future. Skipper sees universities as uniquely capable of solving problems that matter most. “By incentivizing interdisciplinary collaboration and use-inspired research, we can continue to increase the capacity and impact of our research. With so much intellectual capital under one roof, universities are uniquely equipped to make transformational change in areas of need—poverty, disease, addiction, literacy, the environment, you name it. We have to focus on regional needs first; those have the most immediate impact.”

This emphasis on research underscores his belief that universities serve their regions best when they confront real-world challenges with creativity and collaboration.

For Skipper, a truly forward-looking institution must also embrace global engagement. “Southeastern has a robust study abroad portfolio. Studying abroad is a life-changing experience for students; you don’t come back the same. We want to afford more opportunities for students who may not have the resources. More cultural exchanges mean better understanding between people and nations.” At the same time, he stresses the importance of supporting international students who come to Southeastern from around the world: “Globalizing the campus is a two-way street. Southeastern has students from 70 different countries. We have to provide the very best experience possible to international students, and often the challenges are unique, including cultural differences, transportation, and homesickness.”

President William S. Wainwright has described Skipper as bringing “a wealth of experience” and a leadership style that strengthens the university’s academic mission. In his early months at Southeastern, Skipper has already begun forging connections, articulating priorities, and setting a course that blends innovation with the university’s strong tradition of service to southeast Louisiana.

Taken together, these priorities reveal a cohesive and ambitious agenda for Academic Affairs under his leadership.

With an eye on collaboration, research impact, global engagement, and student-centered innovation, Dr. Skipper’s vision reflects both Southeastern’s momentum and its promise. As he steps into this new chapter, he brings with him a belief in what the university can achieve together: bold ideas, shared purpose, and a future built on meaningful impact.