Meet the Dean
Roland W. Mitchell, PhD
E.B. "Ted" Robert Professor
Over the years that he has served as Dean, Mitchell has been highly focused on strategically advancing the interest of the College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) through an emphasis on a.) Enrollment/Retention, b.) Philanthropy, c.) Academic Program Development, d.) Sponsored Research, and e.) Facility Enhancement. Examples of key initiatives to these ends include a partnership with LSU Enrollment Management to launch the inaugural CHSE Academy to increase student enrollment, outreach, and retention; the development of numerous certificate/graduate degree programs; advancement of the Huey P. Long Field House renovation (more than twenty-five million dollars); significant enhancements to CHSE research facilities; and increased funding for faculty research and travel. Mitchell rose through the LSU faculty ranks from his initial appointment in 2005 as an Instructor to Professor, Associate Dean, and then Dean in 2019. Mitchell’s initial appointment as Associate Dean included research, graduate studies, and online programs as part of his portfolio. In his first year in this capacity, the CHSE experienced a 156% increase in grant-funded research and a 39% increase in proposal submissions and led LSU in online student enrollment. Further, the CHSE documented record levels of sponsored research success throughout his tenure.
Mitchell’s research theorizes the impact of historical and communal knowledge on postsecondary education. He has authored seven books and numerous scholarly works. His co-edited Crisis of Campus Sexual Violence was awarded an Outstanding Academic Titles (OAT) award and was highlighted on the Top 25 Favorites list of the Choice editors. Based on his scholarly record and related activity, Mitchell earned the LSU Distinguished Faculty Award, was named Jo Ellen Levy Yates Professor, and was selected as a SEC Academic Development Fellow. Mitchell has a deep passion for impactful community service, as evidenced by his membership on the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services advisory boards and Campus Federal Credit Union. He also received the David A. Kahn Award for Exemplary Service from the Baton Rouge Youth Coalition for his ongoing service in meeting the educational needs of local under-resourced student populations.
Mitchell has a BA in History from Fisk University, a MEd in Higher Education from Vanderbilt University, and a PhD in Educational Research from The University of Alabama.
Past CHSE Deans
Damon P. S. Andrew (2013 - 2018)
Under the director of Damon Andrew, CHSE recorded increases in student majors, student retention, faculty, and grant funding. The college continued to grow online graduate programs across four schools and CHSE launched 7 new certificate programs. The Child Development Laboratory was merged with LSU’s Child Care Center to establish a new national model Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool in the CHSE that serves 175 children via an innovative Reggio Emilia inspired curriculum.
Laura F. Lindsay (2011 - 2013)
Laura F. Lindsay, PhD, is the founding Dean of the College of Human Sciences & Education. Under her leadership, university programs realigned to capitalize on institutional support and collaboration for their shared mission to improve the quality of life across the lifespan. The new college included the current six schools: the School of Education (including the Human Ecology Child Development Laboratory); the School of Kinesiology; the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development; the School of Information Studies; the School of Social Work; and the University Laboratory School. Partnering with the colleges of business administration and engineering, the new college created an online initiative that created and offered numerous masters programs nationwide.