Biography

Dr. John L. Crain
President, Southeastern Louisiana University

Dr. John L. Crain has served as the 14th President of Southeastern Louisiana University since his appointment to the position on February 17, 2009 by the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System. 

Crain previously served as Southeastern’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, a position he held for seven years.  His prior experience at Southeastern also includes head of the Department of Accounting, chair of the Council of Department Heads, president of the Faculty Senate, director of the Small Business Development Center, and 13 years as a full-time member of the accounting faculty.

Crain is a native of Franklinton, Louisiana, where he served as valedictorian of the 1978 graduating class of Franklinton High School.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Southeastern in 1981 and Master of Business Administration in 1984.  He attained Certified Public Accountant status in 1983 and  received his doctoral degree in accountancy from the University of Mississippi in 1988.

Crain's scholarly accomplishments include publication of more than 50 refereed journal articles and numerous presentations at academic conferences.  He was the 1992 recipient of Southeastern's highest faculty award, the President's Award for Excellence in Research.  He served as a member of the Louisiana Blue Ribbon Commission on Educational Excellence, the Louisiana Board of Regents Master Plan National Advisory Panel Workgroup on Retention and Completion, and chair of the Accounting Education Issues Committee of the Society of Louisiana CPAs.

He is a member of various professional, civic and academic organizations, currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, a member of the Executive Committee of the North Shore Business Council, a member of the board of North Oaks Foundation, and as an advisory member of the Board of GNO, Inc.  He is also a member of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development and the Hammond Rotary Club.  He previously served on the Boards of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum and the Louisiana Children's Discovery Museum.