LSU Names Sibel Bargu Ates Vice Provost & Dean of the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School

BATON ROUGE - LSU has appointed Dr. Sibel Bargu Ates as Vice Provost & Dean of the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School, effective May 25, 2026.

Dr. Bargu Ates, a Professor in the Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences, has served as Interim Dean of the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School since 2025. She was selected for the role on a permanent basis following a search that engaged faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders from across the university.

"Professor Bargu Ates has provided thoughtful and steady leadership throughout her service to LSU, and she has earned the respect of colleagues across the University," said Chancellor James T. Dalton. "I am confident she will continue to strengthen the Graduate School and support student and faculty success in this important role."

As Vice Provost & Dean, Dr. Bargu Ates will provide university-wide leadership for graduate education. She will work closely with faculty, colleges, and campus partners to strengthen graduate programs, support student success, enhance academic quality, and advance LSU's research enterprise.

The strength of LSU's graduate education enterprise is critical to the university's goal of becoming a top 50 research university. More than 7,900 graduate and professional students contribute to research, scholarship, creative activity, and instruction across the institution. Their work advances discovery, supports undergraduate learning, and helps address challenges facing Louisiana and communities around the world. As alumni, they extend LSU's influence through leadership in higher education, industry, government, healthcare, the arts, and countless other professions.

"Dr. Bargu Ates is a distinguished scholar, experienced academic leader, and dedicated advocate for graduate education," said Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Provost Troy Blanchard. "During her time as Interim Dean, she has provided steady leadership while advancing initiatives focused on student success and operational effectiveness. I look forward to the opportunities ahead under the leadership of Dr. Bargu Ates."

Prior to leading the Graduate School, Dr. Bargu Ates served as Associate Dean for Academics in the College of the Coast and Environment for seven years and as a Provost Fellow. She has been a faculty member at LSU since 2007. Her scholarship focuses on ecosystem-level change in coastal and estuarine environments, including harmful algal blooms, aquatic food webs, and coastal resilience. Her work has informed environmental management and policy while contributing to scientific understanding of complex coastal systems.

"I am honored to serve as Vice Provost and Dean of the Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School and to work alongside our faculty, students, and partners to strengthen graduate education at LSU," said Dr. Sibel Bargu Ates. "Our faculty and graduate students are central to the university's research and scholarly mission, and I am committed to translating our collective vision into action-expanding opportunities that support their success and amplify their impact across Louisiana and beyond. In doing so, graduate education will continue to drive LSU's advancement as a leading R1 public research university."

Dr. Bargu Ates earned a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography and an M.S. in Chemical Oceanography from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a bachelor's degree in Biology from Istanbul University in Türkiye.