OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Dr. Sandra K. Woodley

Dr. Sandra K. Woodley became the eighth President of the University of Louisiana System in January 2013. The UL System has nine universities under its governance: Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and the University of New Orleans. As the largest higher education system in the state, the UL System serves over 92,000 students with a total operating budget of over $762 million.

Woodley brings to the UL System strategic planning and budgeting experience at four other state system offices.  Most recently, she served as Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives for the University of Texas System where for two years she was responsible for strategic planning, policy research, and accountability for the Texas system composed of 16 academic and health institutions.  She also served as the liaison for the Chancellor to the Board of Regents on two high level Regents' taskforces on blended and online learning and university excellence and productivity.  Her team at Texas designed and implemented a unique and nationally known interactive, electronic dashboard to track progress, diagnose challenges, and provide policy research to support decision making aimed at achieving the System's aggressive goals.

Prior to her work in Texas, Woodley served as Strategic Planner and Chief Financial Officer for the Arizona University System; Vice President for Finance, Planning and Performance for the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education; and Associate Executive Director for the Alabama Commission of Higher Education overseeing finance, performance, and institutional research and information systems. 

Early in her career she served as the Fiscal Analyst for the Alabama Legislative Fiscal Office where she was the senior financial analyst to the Legislature regarding public community and technical colleges and universities, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and economic development agencies in Alabama.  Woodley also served for four years as the Coordinator of the Economic Forecasting Group in the Center for Government and Public Affairs at Auburn University.  Her teaching experience included serving as an adjunct instructor in economics at Auburn University and accounting and statistics at Midway College in Kentucky.

A role model for non-traditional students, Woodley earned her first degree while married with two small children.  Starting out in a community college, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration at Auburn University.  Her doctorate in Business Administration and Management was earned at Nova Southeastern University.  Her dissertation was A critical analyses of the effect of performance funding and budgeting systems on university performance.

Woodley is a native of Weaver, Alabama, and is married to Stan Woodley.  She has three children: Leah, Jonathan, and Rebecca.

Woodley in the News

Mar. 8, 2013 - THE EVOLLLUTION: Performance Measurement Changes to Heighten Focus on Nontraditional Students (Woodley column)

Feb. 28, 2013 - NATCHITOCHES TIMES: La. System's president spending lots of time visiting universities and making good impression (editorial)

Feb. 21, 2013 - HOUMA COURIER: University of Louisiana System president addresses issues facing Nicholls

Feb. 19, 2013 - ALEXANDRIA TOWN TALK: New UL system president tours NSU

Feb. 14, 2013 - BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE: New UL System president visits Southeastern

Feb. 9, 2013 - ALEXANDRIA TOWN TALK: Strong fiscal manager leads UL System (editorial)

Feb. 7, 2013 - MONROE NEWSSTAR: A winner for the UL system (editorial)

Feb. 7, 2013 - RUSTON DAILY LEADER: ULS president Woodley visits GSU; area campuses

Jan. 22, 2013 - LAKE CHARLES AMERICAN PRESS: New System president kicks off statewide tour of universities

Jan. 7, 2013 - THE EVOLLLUTION: From Non-Traditional Student to System President

Dec. 11, 2012 - HOUSTON CHRONICLE: House panel hears of fiscal cliff threats to Texas

Dec. 10, 2012 - CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION: U. of Louisiana's New President Will Look at How Faculty Measure Up

Nov. 10, 2012 - BR ADVOCATE: UL System picks new president

Nov. 9, 2012 - NEW ORLEANS TIMES-PICAYUNE: UL system selects new president

Nov. 9, 2012 - PRESS RELEASE: Sandra Woodley Named President of the University of Louisiana System

Nov. 9, 2012 - YOUTUBE: UL System Selects New President