Dr. Skipper Named Provost at S.E. Louisiana University
Dr. Eric Skipper, a 1986 graduate of Monticello High School, has been appointed Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU).
As Provost, Skipper will oversee the university’s Division of Academic Affairs, which includes six colleges, research, graduate studies, the library, accreditation, enrollment management, global engagement, and units supporting student and faculty success. The Provost is the university’s second highest-ranking official.
SLU, located in Hammond, Louisiana, enrolls 14,800 students and recently earned national “Research Colleges and Universities” status. The university celebrates its Centennial year in 2025.
Skipper previously served as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB). During his nine-year tenure, USCB experienced substantial growth in academics, research, student success, and community engagement. Under his leadership, the university significantly expanded experiential learning opportunities, including study abroad, internships, and undergraduate research.
USCB students gained acceptance into top graduate and professional schools and secured prestigious scholarships and internships such as Fulbright, the Washington Semester Program, and McNair, as well as placements in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs at leading universities and federal agencies.
Skipper emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration, prompting the development of new cross-disciplinary courses and programs. External funding quadrupled during his tenure, with faculty securing grants from major agencies including the Department of Defense (DOD), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Department of Education (ED), among others.
He also played a key role in regional partnerships, leading to innovations such as shared Nursing simulation facilities with Beaufort Memorial Hospital, a revitalized research station on Pritchards Island, and a state-of-the-art Cybersecurity Lab housed in a renovated school building. During his tenure, the number of students completing a minor in addition to a major rose by 127%.
Skipper also led the creation of Beaufort College Honors (BCH), a cohort-based residential community that helped revitalize USCB’s academic presence in downtown Beaufort.
Skipper launched USCB’s “Library of the Future” initiative, leveraging partnerships with local foundations to create specialized technology hubs. International education also flourished at USCB during his tenure.
The university was twice recognized as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution and this year marked its highest-ever student participation in summer study abroad programs.
Skipper’s appointment at Southeastern begins in July. Before joining USCB, he held multiple leadership roles at the University of North Georgia. Skipper holds a B.S. in Management from Georgia Tech and a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from Florida State University.