McNeese President Dr. Wade Rousse was named one of three finalists for the LSU presidential search Wednesday.

He is set to address faculty, staff, students, student leadership and athletic leadership in a series of meetings Monday. The LSU Board of Supervisors is set to meet Tuesday to make a decision on the new hire.

Joining Rousse in the top three spots are University of Alabama Provost Dr. James Dalton and former University of Arizona President Dr. Robert Robbins.

Rousse said in his weekly email to the campus community Friday that the decision to apply did not come easy and was partially motivated by the success he’s had at McNeese.

Since taking over as president in the summer of 2024 for a two-year contract, McNeese ended the academic year in a strong financial position and with the largest fall enrollment in more than 20 years.

“Ultimately, we believe that pursuing this opportunity could create a greater impact for McNeese and for our state as a whole,” Rousse said in the email. “It was not a painless decision, and stepping into what was clearly a political arena came with its challenges. However, I can assure you that this process (win or lose) can result in meaningful gains for McNeese, including strengthened political capital at the state level.”