KEY TAKEAWAYS: Kathy Johnson will leave UNO to become provost at Saint Louis University. Jeanette Weiland will serve as interim chancellor when UNO transitions to LSU New Orleans on July 1. UNO is returning to the Louisiana State University System after operating under the University of Louisi ana System. University leaders say the transition could strengthen academic partnerships and support enrollment growth.   The University of New Orleans has announced a leadership transition as President Kathy Johnson prepares to leave the university ahead of its return to the Louisiana State University System on July 1. Johnson, who became UNO’s first female president in 2023, has accepted a position as executive vice president and provost at Saint Louis University. According to the university, her new role begins July 13. She will remain president of UNO through June 30 as the institution completes its transition from the University of Louisiana System back into the LSU System. The university also announced that Jeanette Weiland will serve as interim chancellor and chief administrative officer beginning July 1, overseeing operations as the school becomes LSU New Orleans. In a statement, University of Louisiana System President Rick Gallot credited Johnson with helping position the university for its next phase through initiatives focused on student success, research growth and strategic partnerships. Johnson’s tenure coincided with discussions surrounding UNO’s long-term financial sustainability and governance structure. State leaders approved the university’s return to the LSU System earlier this year, marking the first time the institution will operate under LSU leadership since leaving the system decades ago. The transition is expected to create expanded academic opportunities, strengthen partnerships and support enrollment growth, according to university officials. UNO will officially rebrand as LSU New Orleans on July 1. Weiland most recently served as UNO’s interim chief administrative officer, where she oversaw business and operational functions including finance, university advancement, information technology, athletics and campus safety. Before joining UNO, Weiland held leadership roles at Tulane University, the New Orleans Business Alliance and Ochsner Health. At Tulane’s School of Science and Engineering, she managed operations across multiple campuses and oversaw a budget exceeding $120 million. “Weiland brings a strong record of leadership, operational expertise and a deep understanding of both higher education and the New Orleans community,” LSU President Wade Rousse said in a statement. Weiland, a UNO alumna, said she looks forward to working with faculty, staff, students and alumni during the university’s transition. The university said it plans to launch a national search for a permanent chancellor after the move to the LSU System is complete. Founded in 1958, UNO serves students from all 64 Louisiana parishes, all 50 states and more than 140 countries. The university currently offers more than 40 undergraduate and pre-professional programs, along with more than 40 graduate programs. ...read more read less