Rick Gallot
| Richard Joseph Gallot, Jr. | |
 | |
President of the
University of Louisiana System | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | James Henderson |
|---|---|
10th President of
Grambling State University | |
| In office August 1, 2016 – December 31, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Willie Larkin |
Louisiana State Senator for District 21
| |
| In office January 9, 2012 – January 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Joe McPherson |
| Succeeded by | Jay Luneau |
Louisiana State Representative
for District 11 | |
| In office 2000 – January 9, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Pinkie Wilkerson |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Jefferson |
| Born | April 3, 1966 Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana |
| Nationality | African American |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Christy Cox Gallot |
| Children | Four children |
| Alma mater | Grambling State University Southern University Law Center |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Richard Joseph Gallot, Jr., known as Rick Gallot (born April 3, 1966), is the incoming African-American president of the University of Louisiana System, a conglomerate of nine state universities. He was appointed to the $475,000 per year position, excluding housing and automobile allowances, by the ULS board.[1] Gallot is also the former president of his alma mater, Grambling State University in Grambling in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana.[2] He is also a Democrat former state senator for District 29 and a former 12-year state representative for District 11.
Background
Born in Ruston in Lincoln Parish, he graduated in 1987 from the historically black Grambling State University, located west of Ruston, and the historically black Southern University Law Center in the capital city of Baton Rouge. He is an inductee of the Southern Law Hall of Fame.[3]
Career
In 2012, after twelve years in the state House of Representatives for District 11, Gallot succeeded the term-limited white Democrat state Senator Joe McPherson of Rapides Parish, who was term-limited.[4] Gallot polled 12,992 votes (50.3 percent) in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 22, 2011.[5]
With a liberal legislative voting record, Gallot in 2014 was one of only two Democrat state senators to oppose reforms to Louisiana's payday lending laws. He sided with the industry against a grassroots campaign that advocated for reform.[6][7]
Gallot did not seek reelection to a second Senate term in the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 24, 2015. In April 2016, Gallot began a brief stint on the board of directors of the CLEC) Corporation, an electric utility company based in Pineville, Louisiana.[8]
Upon his selection as the president of Grambling State University, Gallot donated $20,000 to the institution. He said that he did not feel right asking others to contribute to the university if he did not first do so.[9]
Gallot was chosen the president of the University of Louisiana System in 2023 but was delayed from taking the position until he met with incoming Republican Governor Jeff Landry. Despite their philosophical differences, Landry agreed that Gallot could take the helm of the state system.[1]It has not been revealed if Landry obtained concessions from Gallot regarding the status of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and CRT in the Louisiana college curricula.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 After 2 months, Grambling's Rick Gallot gets contract to lead UL System (thetowntalk.com), author Greg Hilburn, accessed December 31, 2023.
- ↑ Grambling State University - Gallot Named Grambling State University President. www.gram.edu.
- ↑ Richard Gallot, Jr. Biography. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on September 10, 2015.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.
- ↑ Votes on SB 84. legis.la.gov. Retrieved on September 10, 2015.
- ↑ Richard Gallot, Jr.'s Ratings and Endorsements. Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on December 31, 2023.
- ↑ Boards of Managers | Cleco, accessed December 31, 2023.
- ↑ Leigh Guidry. Rick Gallot named new Grambling president. Baton Rouge Advertiser. Retrieved on December 31, 2023.
