Marvalene Hughes to Step Down as President of Dillard University

Marvalene Hughes had been on the job as president of Dillard University in New Orleans for only two months when Hurricane Katrina came ashore in August 2005. The hurricane caused considerable damage to the Dillard campus. All campus buildings were flooded, some to a height of eight feet. Three dormitories were consumed by fire. Total damages were estimated to be in the range of $400 million. The university closed for the semester and reopened in January at a downtown hotel. Enrollments dropped by more than half.

President Hughes criss-crossed the country raising money for the rebuilding effort and restoring the faith of alumni and students that Dillard would survive and prosper.

Now she says her job is done and has announced that she will retire when her replacement is found.

Prior to coming to Dillard, Dr. Hughes served as president of the University of California at Stanislaus. She is a graduate of Tuskegee University and earned a Ph.D. from Florida State University.

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