A woman with Rapides roots is among the three finalists to succeed retiring LSU Alexandria Chancellor Paul Coreil. 

Elizabeth Milton Beard and two others will go through the next round of interviews and stakeholder engagement on the campus Thursday and Friday. 

She, Tammi Vacha-Haase and Jeff Langston were selected after a national search, according to System President Dr. Wade Rousse. 

Beard and Langston hold major positions at the school, Vaacha-Hasse at East Texas A&M. 

Some background on the three: 

• Vacha-Haase serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at East Texas A&M, where she has led academic affairs since joining the institution in 2022. She previously served as Dean of the Graduate College at Boise State University and Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Colorado State University. 

She holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas A&M University, an M.S. from Arizona State University-Tempe, and a B.S. from Arizona State University-Tempe. 

• Beard is LSUA’s Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, bringing 24 years of progressive leadership in faculty roles, academic administration, student success, accreditation, and institutional strategy. 

She previously served LSUA as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Associate Professor of English, and has led major academic innovation and growth initiatives, including workforce-aligned program expansion, curriculum-to-career partnerships, LSU System pathways, and the development of LSUA’s Command Your Career Quality Enhancement Plan. 

She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English from Louisiana State University and a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Spring Hill College. 

• Langston is LSUA’s first Vice Chancellor for Operations and Chief Operating Officer, following his service as Dean of the College of Health and Human Services.  He is former Vice President of Operations at Rapides Regional Medical Center, where he led major patient experience, technology, and operational initiatives. 

He holds a B.S. in Radiologic Technology from the University of Louisiana Monroe and both an MBA and MHA from LSU Shreveport. He is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Leadership Studies at LSU Shreveport. 

(information gathered from an LSUA press release)