Local dentist Clyde Rougeou Jr. has close ties to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which should serve him well as he begins his term on the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

Rougeou said he “graduated twice from there — once in 1971 with a bachelor’s and then again in 1974 with a master’s in microbiology.”

His father, Clyde Lee Rougeou Sr., was the fourth of the school’s five presidents. He served from 1966 to 1974, when current president Ray Authement’s term began. During Rougeou Sr.’s term the school was called the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Advertisement

As of last week, the younger Rougeou is part of the new system. He is one of three new members selected by Gov. Kathleen Blanco to the 16-member University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

Rougeou, 61, will represent the 3rd Congressional District on the board. Two members each are chosen from the seven U.S. Congressional districts in the state. A student member is also selected.

He is “absolutely” happy that he’s part of the ULL milieu again.

His family grew up around the university in Lafayette, the largest of the eight-campus University of Louisiana System.

“It’s quite an honor to be appointed to this board,” he said. “My father was very big in education and really promoted education above everything, so it’s an honor to be able to continue that legacy. We grew up around the university and grew up participating in so many things the university did. My dad was in charge of a lot of the agricultural complex, the farms and all that.

Of course, he was involved with the university for 44 years.”

The mission of the board of supervisors is to provide “direction, control, supervision, management, and assistance” to the system, which provides “quality education, research, creative activities and service.” Rougeou will serve a six-year term.

“I was just appointed last week, and then we had our first meeting last Friday,” he said with a laugh. “They throw you in the fire. I’m sure I have a lot more to learn about it. It’s an interesting position, because it deals with all the universities in the state outside of LSU and Southern.”

The University of Louisiana System is composed of Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech, McNeese, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The University of Louisiana System was formed in July 1999, when USL switched to ULL.

“I had a little bit of an idea of what was involved, having seen my father as head of the university, so it’s not totally new,” he said.

“But it’s changed a bit in those 26 years since he died. I was just really surprised with the selection, but very thankful to the governor.”

Also on the board with Rougeou are Paul Gerard Aucoin, Elise P. Burkhalter, Victor Bussie, Jessica Clarke, Andre G. Coudrain, Dr. Mildred Gallot, Robert T. Hale, Jeff Jenkins, Renee Anne Lapeyrolerie, Jimmy D. Long Sr., Wayne D. Parker, Gordon A. Pugh, Winfred F. Sibille, Eunice W. Smith and Michael H. Woods.