When Luis assumed the role of Interim Department Chair at Jackson State University, the department’s recent aesthetic updates had been implemented under the prior chair, who was serving as Dean at the time of transition.

He was recruited to the role as a tenured faculty member, providing continuity in leadership during the transition period.

In addition to supporting faculty recruitment and providing academic mentorship toward promotion for a tenured colleague, Luis addressed structural advising issues affecting time-to-degree within the master’s program.

To mitigate prolonged completion timelines, he developed a formal “path to completion” framework for graduate students, which was reviewed with the Graduate Council and shared under the Chairship of Thomas Calhoun.

As Chair, he developed a Digital Literacy course and accompanying instructional framework designed for adoption across multiple faculty members following standardized training.

The course supported consistent student learning outcomes and was met with strong student engagement.

On one occasion, at the request of Mario Azevedo, Luis provided targeted academic support to assist students in progressing toward degree completion, reflecting an approach characterized by patience and sustained student engagement.

In collaboration with the Office of International Programs, Luis developed an academic travel initiative to Lisbon, supporting the university’s internationalization objectives.

During his service at Jackson State University, he maintained a student-advocacy role grounded in academic standards and institutional responsibility, ensuring equitable treatment and follow-through on instructional commitments.

Luis supported the Dean’s longstanding partnership with University of Mississippi, including participation in on-site activities to reinforce cross-institutional collaboration.

He established effective working relationships with technical staff, departmental stakeholders, and alumni, and contributed to institutional documentation through preparation of annual reports.