LSU Greek Life Director Angela Guillory leaves job

LSU’s Greek Life Director Angela Guillory, who kept her job through several Greek-related controversies, quietly retired this summer after 18 years at the university. 

Guillory officially left LSU July 31, according to LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard. He said the departure was her own decision. 

“Angela Guillory retired from her role at LSU over the summer, and we thank her for her years of service to LSU and the Greek community. We wish her well in retirement,” Ballard said in a provided statement. 

Guillory’s departure coincided with the arrival of new LSU President William F. Tate, though Ballard said Tate was not responsible for Guillory leaving. 

One of Tate’s most pressing tasks as LSU’s new leader is to repair LSU’s reputation. The public has lost some confidence in LSU’s ability to keep its students safe following hazing scandals and the university’s massive failure to address sexual assault  allegations. Greek life, while under Guillory’s direction, has been intertwined with many of those problems. 

As the Greeks’ supervisor, Guillory came under fire multiple times in the last few years. In 2015, LSU Greek life was criticized for its lack of diversity, with 2013 data showing that only 4 out of almost 1,500 first year LSU pledges were Black. 

In 2017, LSU fraternity pledge Max Gruver died after being forced to drink heavily during Phi Delta Theta hazing. The incident resulted in members of the fraternity being convicted of crimes related to Gruver’s death. The Louisiana Legislature also strengthened the state’s anti-hazing law after lobbying from Gruver’s family. 

Guillory was also placed on administrative leave in 2019 following the arrest of several Delta Kappa Epsilon members for extreme hazing, according to The Advocate. The hazing allegedly included making pledges lie on broken glass and urinating on them. She and the other administrators put on leave, were eventually cleared of charges, following a university investigation.

Women students at LSU also came forward last year to accuse the university of mishandling sexual assault allegations that women made against fraternity members.

Guillory’s replacement, Shawnna Eberhard-Smith, started Aug. 9, with no public announcements. She has not yet responded to interview requests.