The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts has named Jason Anderson as its new executive director. Anderson will officially assume the role and respective duties on July 1, 2026.
The timeline for this transition can be traced back to September, when the search committee was first assembled, according to LSMSA board minutes. Greg Handel, executive vice president and provost at Northwestern State University of Louisiana and a member of this search committee, explained the steps of this recruiting process.
Handel outlined that the process starts with job advertising, a vetting process by the search committee and first-round online interviews, then continues with a rejection process and finally face-to-face interviews.
Handel described the applicant search criteria that the committee was looking for. “[We wanted] an experienced leader with a passion for residential high schools for the academically and artistically gifted and talented students,” he said.
After all of these steps and a multi-month process, Anderson was chosen for the position. Anderson, who is currently serving as the school’s director of academic affairs, will take over as executive director from Steven Horton, who has held the position for 10 years.
“After three years of leadership as director of Academic Affairs at LSMSA, along with the other leadership roles I have held [within the LSMSA system], I was prepared to serve as the next executive director of LSMSA,” Anderson said.
Anderson aims to “provide strategic leadership and vision for the entire LSMSA community [and furthermore] safeguard and promote the mission of the school.” While this role may not be seen to a great extent by the students on a day-to-day basis, the position still serves the students and their diverse interests.
“[The executive director] helps create a stable environment where students can focus on learning, growing and becoming their best selves,” Horton said.
Handel’s perspective of the importance of the role aligns with Horton’s. “The executive director sets the overall tone for an institution, ensures the school runs efficiently and effectively, and that it operates according to its mission,” Handel said.
Anderson has had over 15 years of diligent work at LSMSA in various roles and has been a driving force behind several key initiatives. He has overseen academic operations, faculty recruitment and the development of the school’s Faculty Growth Evaluation Plan.
According to LSMSA, “Anderson has been deeply involved in the school’s extracurricular life, serving as an assistant coach for the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams for over a decade and acting as the faculty sponsor for the Black Student Union.”
Kelsey Meshell, who had Anderson as an advisor for three years in the LSMSA system before graduating and additionally went through an Excel program under him, gave her own perspective on his promotion.
“Dr. J is the only reason I graduated,” Meshell said. “I owe him so much for his constant support, kindness and encouragement. No one deserves this more than him.”
Anderson reflected that he has learned many worthwhile qualities from his students, and hopes these qualities will be evident when he takes over the position as executive director. “[My students have] taught me the value of service and the virtue of humility,” he described.
Horton left Anderson with a piece of advice as he stepped into the role of executive director. “Always stay closely connected to students. Policies, planning and leadership decisions matter, but the most impactful guidance comes from listening—really listening—to student voices and experiences,” Horton said.
Anderson’s goal in moving forward with LSMSA is “to work with my team to develop a new strategic plan for the institution.”
Given his background at LSMSA, a smooth transition into this new role is expected for Anderson and for the school occupants.
