Office of Academic Affairs

Elizabeth Milton Beard is Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at LSUA. A proud central Louisiana native, Dr. Beard has been on the English faculty at LSUA since 2005. She graduated from Rapides High School (class of ’92); earned her BA in English, Secondary Education from Spring Hill College; and completed her MA and PhD in English at LSU Baton Rouge. Dr. Beard was the founding coordinator of the LSUA Writing Center, a Louisiana Writing Project teacher consultant, and is the current holder of the Richard Bryan Gwartney Endowed Professorship in the Liberal Arts. Her areas of research and teaching include writing pedagogy and regional literature. Dr. Beard serves on the Alexandria Museum of Art Board of Directors and the Generals Athletic Association Board.

Prior to his new appointment, he served as Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for the Office of Academic Affairs in January 2018.In August 2017, Dr. Halpin was appointed Vice Provost and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and has been working for several months on program development and related academic projects on behalf of the university.  He is also LSUA’s SACSCOC liaison and played a key role in writing the university’s 2015 Reaffirmation report.

Dr. Halpin earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Greek and Roman Civilization (1987) and a Master of Arts in Modern English and American Literature (1988) from University College Dublin, Ireland. He enrolled in LSU’s graduate program in English in 1989 and received his Ph.D. in English in 1995. 

Dr. Halpin began work as a faculty member in English at LSUA in August 1994 and currently holds the rank of Professor.

In addition, he has served in a variety of administrative positions at the university. From 2006-2007 he was Interim Chair of the Department of Arts, English and Humanities. In 2007 he was appointed Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs; in that role he oversaw academic advising for new students, counseling and testing services, and student life. He says that those years were among the most satisfying of his career, and that he thoroughly enjoying working with and helping students.

Cynthia Thomas, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Provost Fellow here at LSUA. She earned her PhD in Personality Psychology and Developmental Psychology from Howard University, a M. Ed. in Guidance and Counseling Psychology from Bowie State University, and a BS in Psychology from Southern University. She serves the LSUA community by actively participating on several Senate committees, Chancellors Committees, championing suicide prevention and mental health wellness with our students. Dr. Thomas is the 2021- 2022 Bolton Teaching Excellence Award winner.