NEW ORLEANS — Outgoing Southern University System President Dennis Shields gave an emotional farewell speech to the school's board Friday as he prepared to step down after four years.

Choking back tears, and following a standing ovation, Shields said that over recent weeks the board has looked to make a change. He thanked board members for their support since he arrived in Baton Rouge in 2022.

"I didn’t get here by myself," Shields said. "I got here because people who had no vested interest in my succeeding had seen something more and helped me along the path."

The board had planned to name an interim replacement Friday but an agenda item wasn't prepared with sufficient time. It plans to selected someone at its Dec. 19 meeting. Shields will take a six-month sabbatical and then teach at

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