university administration
Dr. Jim Henderson
Northwestern State President
He opened his introductory press conference last September playfully asking why the student newspaper -- that he edited two decades ago -- played the story covering his selection as president-elect on Page 3. Then Dr. Jim Henderson held up the Current Sauce, with a full front page photo and headline commemorating the previous weekend’s landmark Demon football victory over old rival Louisiana Tech, and deadpanned: “they got it right.” The proud alumnus has shown tremendous passion for every aspect of Northwestern State University in his new role. He officially assumed the office Jan. 1 upon the retirement of Dr. Randall J. Webb, now president emeritus after leading NSU since the summer of 1996. U N I V E R S I T Y A D M I N I S T R AT I O N The son of a college football President: and basketball competitor and state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Jim Henderson championship-winning basketball Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs: coach, NSU’s new president is an . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Lisa Abney avid sports fan. He places high value Vice President for External Affairs: on the role of athletics in higher ed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jerry Pierce ucation, and specifically, at NorthVice President for Student Experience: western. Henderson includes “ath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Maggio letic prominence” as one of the key Vice President for Business Affairs: planks in the strategic vision for the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carl Jones university’s advancement to become Vice President for University Affairs: “the nation’s premiere regional in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marcus Jones stitution of higher education.” Vice President for Technology, Innovation and He’s already overseen a dramatEconomic Development: ic burst of enrollment and expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Darlene Williams in his previous campus leadership role, over the past six years at Bossier Parish Community College. His inclusive, transparent management style blends with a seemingly ever-present persona across the Natchitoches campus and anywhere Demons, or prospective Demons, may be. Henderson spent his first semester as NSU’s leader this spring establishing new bonds within the region, aiming to grow Northwestern State into the leading university in the region. He made reaching out to students and student-athletes a priority, gaining valuable feedback that helped Henderson guide NSU through the statewide threat of serious budget cuts that were finally averted last spring by the state legislature, with Henderson’s active lobbying contributing to the successful and remarkable preservation of current budget levels. Prior to NSU, Henderson served as chancellor of Bossier Parish Community College since 2009. In that time, BPCC expanded enrollment by more than 84 percent and increased annual certificate and degree completions by 90 percent. From 2011-13, BPCC was among the five fastest growing community colleges in the nation with enrollments of between 5,000 and 9,999. Under Henderson’s leadership, the college created market responsive programs in nursing, oil and gas technology, construction management, industrial technology and engineering. Henderson was senior vice president, workforce and economic development/career & technical education for the Louisiana Community & Technical College System from 2005 to 2009. He served as appointing authority and chief executive officer of the LCTCS comprised of eight regional technical colleges serving more than 26,000 students. Under his leadership, the statewide technical college system with 42 individually accredited campuses was transitioned into eight regionally accredited technical colleges. During Henderson’s tenure, LCTCS enrollment grew by 98 percent and helped obtain more than $65 million in grants, appropriations and private funding to enhance workforce development. In partnership with Louisiana Economic Development, Henderson helped create Louisiana FastStart, the nation’s top-ranked state workforce training program. From 2001 to 2005, he was director of administration and director of workforce development for the Louisiana Department of Labor. After graduating from NSU with a journalism degree in 1994, Henderson was in the private sector for 10 years in hotel management. He worked for Mississippi Management, Inc., Kemmons Wilson Companies and Ryco Management, playing a leadership role as each company achieved record growth in profitability. A native of Shreveport, Henderson met his wife Tonia at NSU and they married before both graduated. His mother, Martha, is a former administrator at NSU. His father, Clem, a revered high school coach and principal in Shreveport, passed away in March. NSU’s new president earned a Master of Science in Administration from the University of West Florida and a Doctor of Management from the University of Maryland – University College. The Hendersons have three children, Reagan, Nicholas and Alexander.
2015 NORTHWESTERN STATE FOOTBALL
An Involved President When Dr. Jim Henderson took the reins at Northwestern State, the new NSU president didn’t stand on precedent. Instead, he set a few of his own. From his back-and-forths with student athletes and the student body as a whole on Twitter (@DrJBHenderson) to his appearance as the color anlayst during Northwestern State’s women’s basketball game against Stephen F. Austin Feb. 5, 2015, Henderson has infused the campuses that comprise Northwestern State University with a new energy that has filtered throughout northwest Louisiana. While pushing a serious message of improving NSU, Henderson has found a way to mix in some levity as well. A week before making his radio debut, Henderson became the first coach/president to be playfully ejected from an NSU Greek basketball game.
Dr. Jim Henderson (right) made his radio color analyst debut Feb. 5, 2015, during the Stephen F. Austin-Northwestern State women’s basketball game in Prather Coliseum.
The Henderson family (Left to Right): Nicholas, Reagan, Tonia, Jim and Alexander.
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