Reynold Verret, Ph.D., the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Savannah State Universit since 2012, has been named the president of Xavier University of Louisiana. His appointment, effective July 1, comes after the retirement of Francis Norman, Ph.D., who has led the school since 1968.

“We are very proud of Dr. Verret's accomplishments at SSU and we congratulate him on being named the President of Xavier University of Louisiana,” said Cheryl Dozier, president of SSU. “His many years of higher education leadership experience have certainly prepared him to uphold and advance the strong legacy of Xavier University of Louisiana.”

During his tenure at Savannah State University, the university reestablished the School of Teacher Education with special emphasis on the development of STEM educators. Initiatives for adult learners including certificate programs and a fully online Bachelor of Business Administration have been established.  Under his leadership, undergraduate research prospered and allowed students to engage deeply in their disciplines. Enrollment continued to increase and Dr. Verret was instrumental in enhancing academic advising processes, which increased retention and college completion. Dr. Verret also initiated the honors college, Honors at SSU, and appointed its first director.

Verret came to SSU from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Penn., where he had served as provost since 2007. Notably, Verret enhanced engineering programs, promoted faculty scholarship, organized the School of Education at Wilkes and developed its Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, which provides sound scientific and policy analysis on energy issues facing northeastern Pennsylvania.

From 2002-2007, Verret served as dean of the Misher College of Arts and Sciences and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP).  At USP, he led the review and revision of the university's general education curriculum and helped to establish a bachelor's degree program in humanities and science and master's degree program in public health.  Verret also served on the faculty at Tulane University in New Orleans and as chair of the chemistry department at Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta from 1996-2002.

A noted scientist who has published in the fields of biological chemistry and immunology, Verret earned the bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Columbia University in New York and the doctorate in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge.