Dr. Norman C. Francis’ decision to step down as president of Xavier University in New Orleans next year—a job that he’s held for nearly 47 years—has led to widespread speculation across the academic community over who might be his replacement
In a series of interviews with a number of sources close to the university, Marc H. Morial—the former New Orleans mayor who is now president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League—was mentioned as an ideal successor to the 84-year-old Francis.
Morial, who is currently on the school’s board of trustees, has taught at Xavier as an adjunct professor in the past, and his mother, Sybil, served in a variety of administrative posts at the school until her retirement in 2005.
But in an interview with Diverse, Morial, 56, who has led the National Urban League since 2003, says that he’s not interested in the Xavier presidency.
“I don’t really see myself in that vein, but it’s always flattering when someone thinks that you can stand on the shoulders of Norman Francis,” he says. “I am very committed to the National Urban League,” he says, adding that the New York-based civil rights group founded in 1910 will kick off its major capital campaign this year.
It’s no wonder why Morial’s name quickly rose to the top of the list.
He hails from a political dynasty. His father, Ernest Nathan “Dutch” Morial, was the first Black mayor of New Orleans, serving from 1978 to 1986. And many of Morial’s closest friends are still based in New Orleans. Political observers have long speculated that the trained attorney still had aspirations of someday returning to Louisiana politics.
