HAMMOND — Southeastern Louisiana University named a new dean of research and innovation.

The university selected Daniel McCarthy for the position after he served on an interim basis since July 2024.

“Working collaboratively with faculty, academic leaders, students and external partners, Dr. McCarthy will foster interdisciplinary research and scholarship, support faculty development and success in securing external funding and promote student engagement in research and experiential learning,” said Eric Skipper.

McCarthy joined Southeastern in 1994 as an assistant professor of physics. He later served as founding dean of the College of Science and Technology from 2005 to 2024, where he led more than 150 faculty and 2,000 majors, expanded academic degree offerings and secured key program accreditations.

McCarthy was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy for a decade and promoted undergraduate research while working alongside institutions like MIT and UC San Diego.

He also led Southeastern’s involvement in the $40 million H2theFUTURE coalition and the $160 million NSF Engines FUEL project. The university said he secured more than $5.8 million in state workforce incentives for computer science and led federal funding efforts that resulted in a recurring $1.75 million defense appropriation and $11.75 million in fiscal year 2027 federal budget requests for artificial intelligence and research.

McCarthy lives in Mandeville and holds a bachelor of science in physics from Case Western Reserve University and a doctorate in physics from the University of Maryland at College Park. His appointment is subject to approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.