Todd Manuel Named LSU Vice President of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX

BATON ROUGE – LSU has named Todd Manuel, who currently serves as director of Organizational Health & Diversity for Entergy, as the university’s Vice President of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX, effective Sept. 1. Since January 2021, Manuel has also served as Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Transformation for the Edison Electric Institute, the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies and more than 65 international electric companies as members.

“We are pleased to welcome Todd Manuel to the LSU leadership team,” said William F. Tate IV, LSU president. “He has a strong background in diversity, equity and inclusion, along with a legal knowledge to understand and interpret Title IX laws and policies to better help our students, faculty and staff. Todd brings the leadership and experience needed to build a true national model for an integrated approach for inclusion, civil rights and Title IX. Moreover, his approach aligns with supporting a healthy community.” 

The inaugural Vice President for Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX is in a position to build a true national model for an integrated approach to serving protected classes and improving institutional climate on a large college campus. 

“When I think about the great work that is happening here at LSU and the desire to be a global force for change, I couldn’t think of a better place to be to deliver the type of work that I have been engaged in for much of my career,” Manuel said.

During his public forum on campus, Manuel noted that bringing together the three components of inclusion, civil rights and Title IX makes sense for LSU since the common thread in each is equity. 

“When you bring these offices together and you have that common thread of equity being woven throughout these three components, what you actually end up with is the possibility of creating a highly integrated approach to how LSU addresses diversity, equity and inclusion,” Manuel said. “The synergies that exist between all three of these groups will position LSU in a way that it is best able to handle some of the challenges we’ve faced, as well as help the organization continue its mission of research, teaching and service.”

Manuel feels that the LSU Division of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX has the opportunity to be a collaborative partner in four distinct ways with the rest of the university:

• Drive engagement throughout the entire LSU community;
• Increase operational effectiveness and innovation;
• Enhance LSU’s brand recognition and reputation;
• Sustain LSU’s values in the cultural DNA of the university.

“Essentially what the Division of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX is able to help LSU do is to harness the collective genius that exists within the university,” Manuel said. 

Manuel sees the Division of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX as an essential partner in driving LSU’s academic mission to help achieve goals such as advancing arts and culture; bridging the gap in energy, coast and the environment; fostering research and catalyzing economic development; improving health outcomes; transforming educational opportunities; and developing leaders. 

“I really believe that LSU can hit the mark on all of these goals,” Manuel said. 

Since March 2021, Jane Cassidy has served as the interim Vice President of Civil Rights & Title IX in the newly established Division of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX. During her tenure, the university completed 17 of the 18 recommendations made by Husch Blackwell following its review of LSU’s Title IX processes. The final recommendation will be completed when a power-based violence climate survey will be administered during the 2022-23 academic year. 

In addition, the LSU Board of Supervisors engaged the firm Baker Tilly to review progress on the Husch Blackwell recommendations and provide any additional recommendations to improve the Title IX process at LSU. That report was delivered in December 2021 with three of the five recommendations already having been completed. 

“We thank Dr. Cassidy for her work in standing up the Division of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX; bringing in quality staff; and helping to implement the Husch Blackwell recommendations across campus,” Tate said. Cassidy will return to her role as senior vice provost in the Office of Academic Affairs.

LSU conducted a national search for the new Vice President of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX. Johanna Posada, assistant general counsel, chaired the committee, which included faculty, staff, students from throughout the LSU system of campuses. 

The Vice President of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX position will develop, deliver, and oversee LSU’s Title IX compliance programs and obligations. In addition, the vice president will provide leadership in the prevention of and response to all matters of discrimination on LSU campuses and will oversee initiatives that ensure students from historically underrepresented populations matter and belong in the LSU community.

Manuel is a seasoned executive and diversity thought leader with expertise in leveraging Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as business enabler at both an enterprise and industry-wide level. He received a Bachelor of Science in accounting from LSU in 1995, a Juris Doctor from the Southern University Law Center in 1998 and an Executive Certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from Georgetown University in 2020.

Currently an executive with the Edison Electric Institute, or EEI, Manuel leads strategic efforts to advance racial and social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion for the electric power industry. As director of Organizational Health & Diversity with Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations, Manuel had broad responsibility for developing and leading the company’s strategy for improving organizational health, diversity, and inclusion. His leadership efforts also included partnering with the workforce development team and the Southern University School of Engineering on delivery of a multi-year initiative designed to create a pathway for black engineers to enter Entergy’s workforce. 

A leader who believes in the power of community engagement, Manuel currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Helix Community Schools. 

For more information on the LSU Division of Inclusion, Civil Rights & Title IX, visit https://www.lsu.edu/civil-rights/.