(AUSTIN) - The Texas State University System Board of Regents today confirmed the appointment of Dr. John Hayek as president of Lamar State College Port Arthur. Dr. Hayek, who has served as interim president since January, was unanimously confirmed at the board’s quarterly meeting in Austin.
Dr. Hayek brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in higher education, with a record of leadership at the campus, system, and state levels, including advancing student success, workforce development, K–16 pathways, and partnerships with business and industry. In addition to his role as interim president, he serves as Vice Chancellor for Academic and Health Affairs and Chief Academic Officer for the Texas State University System, where he provides academic leadership across seven institutions.
Prior to joining TSUS in 2015, Dr. Hayek served as Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas System, where he led systemwide student success initiatives and academic strategy. He also served as Senior Vice President for Budget, Policy, and Planning at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, directing statewide efforts in higher education funding, policy, and workforce development.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Hayek was part of the leadership team at Indiana University’s Center for Postsecondary Research, where he helped launch the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), a nationally recognized tool for improving student success and institutional quality.
Dr. Hayek earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Indiana University Bloomington, a master’s degree in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chicago.
About LSCPA
Lamar State College Port Arthur, a member of the Texas State University System, is located in Port Arthur, Texas, in the heart of Southeast Texas’ energy and industrial corridor. The historic campus, which recently marked more than a century of service to the region, offers more than 50 academic, technical, and workforce programs spanning a wide range of fields — from music and the arts to industrial training and allied health — designed to prepare students for high-demand careers and successful transfer to four-year universities. Through strong faculty mentorship, industry partnerships, and robust continuing education and workforce training opportunities, the college plays a vital role in developing the skilled workforce that drives the regional and state economy while providing students with a clear pathway to educational and career success.
About TSUS
The Texas State University System is the state’s first university system, with seven institutions serving more than 102,000 students from far West Texas to the Gulf Coast. Established in 1911, the mission of TSUS is to provide high-quality, affordable degree and credential programs to meet the needs of Texas’ diverse and fast-growing economy.