Dr. Chris Maggio

Chris Maggio served as NSU’s 19th president from 2017 until his retirement in 2021 and was a member of NSU’s faculty, staff and administration for 33 years. Known as a tireless recruiter, Northwestern reached a record enrollment of 11,447 in the fall 2020 semester under Maggio’s leadership. The four highest enrollments in NSU history were recorded during Maggio’s tenure as president, and the university’s economic impact on the region climbed to an all-time high of $428 million.

Academic offerings were enhanced and expanded during his presidency including the creation of a master’s degree in computer information systems, a concentration in Nurse Anesthesia in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and the establishment of the Nursing Clinical program on the Natchitoches campus. During his presidency, private funding grew to the highest in NSU’s history. Endowments grew to $45 million, 25 new endowed professorships and first-generation scholarships were established, and contributions to the NSU Foundation exceeded $22 million. Maggio also secured initial funding for the $44 million Robert Alost Hall and the $9.5 million David and Sherry Morgan Health Performance Center facility projects.

Maggio guided Northwestern through one of the most challenging periods in its 140-year history when the school transitioned in the spring of 2020 to predominantly online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to becoming president, Maggio served the university in a variety of roles including, vice-president for the Student Experience, assistant vice-president for External Affairs, dean of students and assistant provost, director of Alumni and Development, director of Enrollment Services, director of Admissions, assistant athletic director, and head women’s track and field and cross country Coach.

Maggio is a 1985 summa cum laude graduate of Northwestern State and was chosen as Mr. NSU.