Meador named interim chancellor of Fletcher

Earl Meador, who serves as director of South Central Louisiana Technical College, will become interim chancellor of Fletcher Community College upon Chancellor Travis Lavigne’s retirement in mid-June, a news release from the technical college stated.
Meador will also continue his role as director of South Central Louisiana Technical College, the release stated.
Meador said Monday that leveraging the benefits of the technical college system and a community college, will create a “synergy” that could raise the level of college graduates in St. Mary Parish and effect its economy.
One of the first steps he proposed is teaching college level courses at the Young Memorial campus in Morgan City.
Meador said freshman-level math courses will be taught starting in September at Young Memorial and possibly adding freshman level psychology or English classes in January.
“This is an exciting time,” Meador said. “We will be able to do things for our community … and start to change the economy of St. Mary Parish.”
Meador said he wants to utilize the strengths of Fletcher, a community college, and Young Memorial, a technical college, and have the two campuses “moving in the same direction, working together.”
Meador will step in at Fletcher when Lavigne retires after spending 42 years there. A replacement search could take up to a year.
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the appointment of Meador last week at the recommendation of System President Monty Sullivan.
“Dr. Meador is … a proven leader who understands the needs of the region,” Sullivan said. “He is respected in South Louisiana and is passionate about academic and workforce training. I look forward to working with him in this dual role.”
Meador said the appointment came as a surprise to him. He thought he had been called to Baton Rouge to be briefed on a new project or possibly something else, he said.
Meador said he was honored by Sullivan’s nomination and the board’s approval, and looks to build on “the great work that has been started by Chancellor Lavigne”
“I understand the role that Fletcher has in the community,” Meador said. “My commitment is to work with (everyone) at both institutions to continue … finding innovative ways to serve the region from the river to the gulf through education and workforce training.”
Meador was named director of South Central Louisiana Technical College in November 2012 and oversees its three campuses in Reserve, Thibodeaux and Morgan City and two extension campuses in Morgan City and Cut Off.
Prior to being named director, Meador served as dean of South Central Louisiana Technical College’s Lafourche Campus. He also oversaw SCLTC, Galliano Service Center in Galliano.
Meador’s professional career includes a variety of positions with the technical college, including serving as an Instructor in the Marine Department and as assistant dean of the Young Memorial campus.
Before his work at the college, Meador gained experience in a variety of senior management positions.
including president of an offshore service company and operations and personnel manager of Aggressor Fleet, which operates luxury scuba diving yachts in 16 countries, the news release stated.
Meador holds a bachelor’s degree in business management, a juris doctorate from Loyola University School of Law and a sixth issue 500-ton USCG masters license.
Meador and his wife, Lori, live in Thibodaux.