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(05/21/25) BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU AgCenter has appointed Michael Salassi interim vice president for agriculture and dean of the LSU College of Agriculture, following the selection of Matt Lee as interim LSU system president.
Salassi, who serves as director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, brings more than three decades of experience with the AgCenter to his new leadership role.
As Salassi steps into this position, Glen Gentry, the current Southeast Region director, will serve as interim director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station. Together, they will continue to support the AgCenter’s statewide mission of research, extension and teaching. These AgCenter appointments are effective June 1.
“The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture continue to have a tremendous impact on the citizens of Louisiana, through youth development, higher education, research and extension. It is an honor to be in a position to help direct the great work that our faculty, agents and staff do on a daily basis to better the lives of our state’s citizens,” Salassi said.
Salassi has been with the AgCenter for 31 years, previously serving as faculty member and department head in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, and Agriculture and Natural Resources program leader, before serving as director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station.
Salassi received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from LSU and a doctorate from Mississippi State University. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service in Washington, D.C., before returning to LSU as an associate professor in 1994.
“His breadth of experience and dedication to our land-grant mission make him exceptionally well-suited to lead during this time,” Lee said of Salassi. “I have full confidence in his leadership and know the organization will continue to thrive under his guidance.”
Gentry is an animal scientist with degrees from LSU, who has been with the AgCenter for 33 years. In addition to Southeast Region director, he also serves as resident director of the Bob R. Jones-Idlewild Research Station near Clinton and the Doyle Chambers Central Research Station in Baton Rouge.
The LSU AgCenter has appointed Michael Salassi interim vice president for agriculture and dean of the LSU College of Agriculture. LSU AgCenter file photo
Glen Gentry, the current Southeast Region director, will serve as interim director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station. LSU AgCenter file photo
