The Southern University Board of Supervisors is set to select an interim president for the university system Friday and launch a search for a new president in January, according to the agenda for its upcoming meeting.

The agenda for the board's meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, contains an item that reads: "Selection of Interim President for Southern University System commencing on January 1, 2026, until a permanent President is selected."

A spokesperson for Southern didn't immediately respond to questions about the agenda item or to questions about whether current Southern University President and Chancellor Dennis Shields is leaving his job.

Shields has led both Southern University's main campus and the college system since early 2022. Before he was appointed to the role, he was president of

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