Dr. Donovan L. Segura serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Compliance at the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center and as a faculty member of Public Policy within the nation’s only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) System.

With more than a decade of service in higher education, public policy, and institutional governance, Dr. Segura is widely recognized as a thought leader in public administration, policy analysis, and organizational leadership. He earned his Ph.D. in Public Policy from Southern University and A&M College at the age of 29 and holds executive certifications from the University of Michigan and Penn State University. His peer-reviewed research, published in nationally respected academic journals, focuses on critical themes in modern governance, including environmental justice, higher education and social policy.

Dr. Segura’s scholarly contributions have yielded measurable policy impacts. In 2024, a collaborative study he co-authored on suicide rates among college students in Louisiana played a pivotal role in the passage of statewide legislation expanding access to mental health services across public institutions of higher learning.

In his administrative capacity, Dr. Segura has led key initiatives focused on institutional effectiveness and accountability. His leadership has ensured the University's alignment with continuous improvement objectives and the accreditation standards set forth by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Additionally, he has played a role in securing competitive external grants, which have directly enhanced student learning environments and broadened access to academic opportunities.

A dedicated mentor and academic leader, Dr. Segura has served as chair or committee member on more than 30 doctoral dissertation committees, advancing research that informs public policy, service and leadership. His guidance has helped shape the next generation of scholars and policy professionals committed to civic engagement and evidence-based decision-making.

An advocate for student success, Dr. Segura has led strategic efforts to expand dual enrollment opportunities for high school students across Louisiana. In 2019, under his coordination with the University’s targeted dual enrollment program, enrollment increased by 130% within just one month of his involvement. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, these efforts continued to drive statewide growth in participation. His leadership significantly broadened access to college-level coursework for high school students, particularly in the East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan and Acadiana regions.

In his role as Associate Vice Chancellor, Dr. Segura is responsible for overseeing all aspects of compliance, risk management, and regulatory reporting at the Agricultural Research and Extension Center. He ensures full adherence to federal, state, and regional mandates, including those set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). He also chairs the campus Policy and Planning Committee, providing strategic guidance that sustains institutional integrity, supports long-term sustainability, and reinforces internal governance structures. His portfolio includes serving as the primary liaison to oversight agencies, supporting legislative engagement, and positioning the Ag Center as a continued leader in agricultural research, community outreach, and public policy innovation.

In addition to his academic and administrative leadership, Dr. Segura remains deeply committed to public service. He currently represents District 3 on the National Council of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and is the immediate past and 47th national president of the Conference of Minority Public Administrators (COMPA). He also serves on the board of Serve Louisiana, the state’s longest-running AmeriCorps program.

A recipient of the Southern University Alumni Federation’s prestigious “Top 40 Under 40” award as part of Cohort I during its inaugural launch, and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Dr. Segura continues to champion excellence, accountability, and access in higher education and the broader public sector.

Dr. Segura is married to Basirat K, and together they are the proud parents of their daughter, Lilliana Grace.

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