Biographical sketch of Dr. Vincent J. Marsala
11/09/04

A native of Monroe, Dr. Vincent J. Marsala received his M.A. in government in 1962 and Ph.D. in Latin American studies from LSU A&M in 1967. He taught political science at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1962-1963 and joined LSUS in 1967 as an assistant professor of history. He has held the following positions at LSUS:

* Chancellor
* Interim Chancellor
* Professor of History
* Dean of the Division of Continuing Education and Public Service
* Dean of the College of General Studies
* Coordinator of the LSU A&M Graduate Resident Program
* Chair, Department of Social Science

In his years at LSUS he has taught Louisiana history, Louisiana government and Latin American history. He has done extensive research in his areas of expertise including several publications on the late U.S. Sen. Joseph E. Ransdell of Lake Providence, La. His latest publication, Abraham Lincoln: Sources and Style of Leadership, was edited with Dr. Bill Pederson, LSUS professor of political science and director of the LSUS International Lincoln Center for American Studies, and the Honorable Frank Williams, chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. In 1984, he received a Fulbright Award for a group study project to Costa Rica titled, “The Social Context of Crisis in Central America.”

In 1987, Marsala was elected to the Caddo Parish Commission, where he served two terms ending in 1995, and in 1994, he served on the Governor’s Higher Education Commission for the 21st Century. In 1997-98, he served as chair of the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology (CERT), whose membership consists of the chief executives of all colleges and universities in North Louisiana. He has been treasurer of CERT since 1999. He was chair of the Conference of Louisiana Colleges and Universities in 2002-03.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of:

* Shreveport Chamber of Commerce (through December 2005)
* Boy Scouts of America, Norwela Council
* Shreveport-Bossier Committee of 100
* KDAQ Public Radio
* Alliance for Education
* University Club
* Inner City Entrepreneurial Institute
* National Conference for Community and Justice

He is or has been a member of the following groups:

* Downtown Rotary Club
* Community Foundation of Shreveport-Bossier City
* Economic Development Cabinet, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
* Education Cabinet, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
* Legislative Policy Committee, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
* Community Development Committee, Bossier Chamber of Commerce
* Board of Regents Ad Hoc Committee on Higher Education in the Shreveport Metropolitan Area (1997-98)
* Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal
* Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs Council
* Council for a Better Louisiana
* Public Affairs Research Council

In 1995, he was honored as “Administrator of the Year” by the Louisiana Association of Educational Office Personnel, and in 1999 he received the first-ever “Pilot of the Year” award from the LSUS Alumni Association. In 2003, he was recognized by Junior Achievement of North Louisiana as a Laureate of the North Louisiana Business Hall of Fame.

He and his wife, Carol Ann, have one daughter, Shawne. In addition to his love for reading and politics, Marsala enjoys hunting, bass fishing and watching John Wayne movies.