Grambling’s president reaches for brass research ring to elevate North La. HBCU

By: Piper Hutchinson

Outlets: Louisiana Illuminator

Published: October 5, 2026

Words: 1,031

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

GRAMBLING — Grambling State’s Martin Lemelle is Louisiana’s youngest university president — and one of the most ambitious.

Lemelle, 41, was hired to lead North Louisiana’s only historically Black university two years ago. Since then, he’s set big goals for the university.

His plan is to transform Grambling into just the 16th HBCU, out of 107 total, to be designated as a research university. It would join six other …

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