Academic

Much of this material can be found in: Louise Bernard &
Radiclani Clytus; John Baker Brown, Mildred Robertson
& Cesily Roberts (eds.); Dorothy Smith and David Organ
(research). “Within These Walls: A Short History of Dillard
University.”
Dillard University Presidents
1935 - 1936: Will W. Alexander (acting)
1936 - 1940: William Stuart Nelson
1941 - 1969: Albert Dent
1969 - 1973: Broadus N. Butler
1973 - 1974: Myron F. Wicke (acting)
1974 - 1997: Samuel DuBois Cook
1997 - 2004: Michael L. Lomax
2004 - 2005: Bettye Parker Smith (interim)
2005 - 2011: Marvalene Hughes
2011 - 2012: James E. Lyons, Sr., (interim)
2012 - present: Walter M. Kimbrough
Dillard Today
The Campus
Dillard University is located in New Orleans, Louisiana,
a metropolitan area with a population over 1.2 million.
New Orleans is situated on the Mississippi River, 50
miles above the Gulf of Mexico. The ports along
the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton
Rouge comprise the world’s busiest port system.
Long referred to as one of the nation’s most
interesting cities, New Orleans is one of the few
cities which has been successful in retaining a major
portion of its historical past. Indeed, the famous
Vieux Carre, or French Quarter, is a veritable living
museum. New Orleans has an unmatched charm,
punctuated by exciting annual events such as Mardi
Gras and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
(JazzFest). The city also boasts numerous parks,
libraries, museums, art galleries, theatres, opera
companies, a nationally known symphony orchestra,
and the Louisiana Superdome, one of the nation’s
premier facilities for sporting and musical events.
According to the United States Census Bureau, New
Orleans is one of the nation’s fastest growing large
cities. New Orleans is an educational center, home
to numerous institutions of higher learning, graduate
and professional schools. Moreover, New Orleans
is the state’s medical, cultural, banking and judicial
center. The city was ‘multi-cultural’ from its earliest
days, and its African, European, Caribbean and Central
and South American mix has resulted in a rich social
milieu punctuated with good food, marvelous music,
engaging performance art and a deep appreciation
of the joy of being unique. Dillard University’s
convenient location in the Gentilly area, combined
with the local transit system, makes access to most
places and events easy and economical for students.
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