Low-key Lomotey to be visible

• By JORDAN BLUM
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 26, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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New Southern University Chancellor Kofi Lomotey laughs after explaining how people tell him he barely ever smiles.

“But I do have a good sense of humor,” the tall, deep-voiced Harlem, N.Y., native emphasizes.

People just have to get to know him, explained Lomotey, who was introduced to students at Friday’s summer commencement.

“I’m sometimes low-key to a fault,” he said. “Some people think I’m aloof.”

But those are misinterpretations, he said.

“I listen to people, and I don’t get stressed,” Lomotey said. “I’m passionate, although not always visibly passionate.”

And Lomotey said he is passionate about getting to know all the students, employees, alumni and supporters in the Southern and Baton Rouge communities.

Although he just moved into his new office on Monday, Lomotey has met many Southernites at the university’s national alumni conference in New Orleans recently.

Now, the first Southern chancellor hired from outside of the university in more than 30 years is eager to hit the ground running.

“I will be visible,” Lomotey said. “I believe in walking the campus as a policy of leadership.”

But the Stanford-educated chancellor knows he has much more to do than shake hands and chit-chat.

Lomotey, 57, is facing a declining enrollment, tight budgets and upcoming re-accreditation visits.

He said he plans to assess all the academic programs and determine what are the strengths — such as engineering and nursing — and what is needed.