During their May meeting, the Southern University System Board of Supervisors named Alvin Washington as the interim chancellor of the Southern University Law Center.
“As I step into this leadership role, my primary focus will be on collaborating with our faculty, staff, and students to improve our first-time and ultimate bar passage rates,” said Washington. “This goal is crucial for our institution's success, as it directly impacts the future careers of our students, and further advances our mission of providing legal educational opportunities to the underserved and producing lawyer leaders.”
The Board’s approval came at the recommendation of Southern University System President Dennis J. Shields.
“It is very important for every university to take a pause and access the needs of the institution,” said Dennis Shields, president of Southern University System. “I am pleased to recommend to the board, Attorney Alvin Washington, to serve as the interim chancellor of the Southern University Law Center.”
Washington is the managing professor for the Law Center’s Mediation Clinic. He also serves as a faculty member, teaching courses such as legal research, statutory analysis, alternate dispute resolution, and legal negotiations. Throughout his career, Washington has held community-focused roles, demonstrating expertise in insurance and civil rights.
Washington received his B.S. degree from Grambling State University in 1983 and his J.D. from Southern University Law Center in 1987. While stationed in Long Beach, California, he served as a military trial lawyer and department head for the claims division in the United States Navy. He was also appointed as a special assistant to the United States Attorney General for the Central District of California.
After completing his tour of duty, Washington returned to Louisiana, where he worked as an assistant attorney general handling general liability, road hazards, and civil rights cases. Before joining the Law Center’s staff in 2003, he served as the section chief of the Civil Rights Division of the Louisiana Department of Justice for four years.
He has been involved in several community organizations, including 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, Baton Rouge Branch NAACP, Baton Rouge Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, Habitat for Humanity, and the South Louisiana Charter Foundation.
Washington’s official start date is forthcoming.
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