History

The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center was established in 1931 for the training of medical and nursing students and graduate students in the basic sciences. For many years the lack of adequate research space limited graduate enrollment severely, and it was not until 1954 that expansion permitted a considerable increase in the student body. Degrees were granted by the Graduate School of LSU, Baton Rouge, in the early years of the program. The Graduate School of the LSU System was re-organized in 1965 and separate autonomous units were established at LSU A&M in Baton Rouge, the University of New Orleans, and the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and Shreveport.  On July 1, 2005, the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport established a  separate School of Graduate Studies.

The Faculty of the School of Graduate Studies is composed of selected members of the faculties of the other five professional schools of the Health Sciences Center, principally in the basic health sciences. Those faculty at the rank of assistant professor or above are eligible to be nominated for membership in the Graduate faculty. Such nomination must be made by two members of the Graduate faculty through the Dean to the Graduate Advisory Council. Membership criteria include: current and continuing interest in creative research as evidenced by publications in recognized journals in the field and interest in the teaching of graduate students.

Chronology

The following five people have served as Associate Dean or Dean of the LSU Health Sciences School of Graduate Studies since its establishment in 1965.