Grambling State University, the public historically Black college (HBCU) in northern Louisiana, Thursday lost its third president in less than two years, when Dr. Willie D. Larkin resigned the post amid widespread reports that he was facing being fired by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.
Larkin, who came to Grambling last June from serving as chief of staff for the president of Morgan State University, soon fell out of favor with the Grambling community, already unhappy with constant budget cuts by former Governor Bobby Jindal, actions critics say fueled the institution’s decline in enrollment. Larkin had taken over for Dr. Cynthia S. Warrick, who had served a rocky one-year interim term that ended in July 2015.
By February, Larkin had been given a ‘no confidence’ vote by the university Faculty-Senate. By early this month, he was being widely criticized within the Grambling community for taking a trip to Cuba with the Morgan State choir. Once pictures circulated via the Internet, Larkin said the visit was part of a recruiting trip.
The University Board of Supervisors made no statement regarding its next move about Grambling’s leadership. There have been reports, however, that the board had approached Richard ‘Rick’ Gallot Jr., a well-known attorney in the region. Gallot is a graduate of Grambling and the Southern University Law Center. His added value to the institution is his political record of having spent more than a decade in the state legislature representing districts in northern Louisiana.
Also, his mother, Dr. Mildred Gallot, served on the state board of supervisors. Her term was not extended by then Governor Jindal who was widely regarded by Grambling supporters as having little interest in the institution.
Attorney Gallot was handling a trial Thursday and could not be reached for comment.
Compared to Larkin and his most recent predecessors, the Gallot name in the Grambling region is as established and well regarded as that of the late Eddie Robinson, the university’s legendary football coach.
