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After 16 years 星空无限传媒 and an extraordinary 51-year journey in academia, former CC&E Dean and Oceanography & Coastal Sciences Professor Chris D鈥橢lia is retiring.

To celebrate Dr. D鈥橢lia鈥檚 remarkable legacy, colleagues, students, alumni and community members will gather on Thursday, January 29th to honor his lasting impact.

鈥淔or over 40 years, I have had the pleasure of knowing the leadership team at CC&E 星空无限传媒. The progress made by Dean Chris D鈥橢lia since his arrival in 2009 has been remarkable,鈥� said Richard Lipsey, a longtime member of the CC&E Advisory Council. 鈥淢ost notably, in my opinion, has been the increase in not only top graduate students but also the emphasis on recruiting undergraduate students. Additionally, he has successfully brought in top faculty to educate all these students. He has a talent for securing grants, making CC&E the leading grant producer at the university. We are all delighted that he and Jenny will continue sharing his extensive knowledge of coastal sciences with our university.鈥�

鈥淐hris D鈥橢lia is a truly remarkable leader. The numbers from his tenure as dean speak for themselves 鈥� our Coastal Environmental Sciences major went from 25 students to over 200, and the college鈥檚 research grants surpassed $100 million 鈥� more than any other college per capita 星空无限传媒!鈥� said Clint Willson, current dean of CC&E. 鈥淚t鈥檚 impossible to say enough about his achievements. Even when times were difficult, he used his creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to continue to expand the faculty and options offered by the college. His legacy of excellence will sustain CC&E for years to come.鈥�

In fact, a new piece of his legacy came into being just last August, when the Coastal Meteorology program he helped champion came into being in the fall of 2025.

"I'm very grateful for Dean D'Elia's vision and leadership in general, but especially for all that he did to establish our coastal meteorology program here 星空无限传媒.  It simply would not have been possible without him,鈥� said Robert Rohli, a professor in DOCS and head of the program.

鈥淐hris D'Elia was the full package: eminent scholar, outstanding colleague, visionary academic leader. He was truly the 鈥楧ean of the Deans鈥� 星空无限传媒, and mentored an entire generation of administrators. During the Jindal years he taught me how to fill out a 鈥榗ut sheet,鈥� highlighting the ways to preserve what's important. I also got to travel abroad with him to Cuba, and saw what a citizen of the world he is. How lucky we all were to work with him and watch him build CCE into the powerhouse it's become!鈥� said Jonathan Earle, the dean of the Ogden Honors College.

D'Elia's tenure as Dean came after senior administrative roles at three other universities. But he says he considered being a professor the best job of all and his heart was always in the classroom. 

April Ellis, a 2018 Coastal Environmental Sciences graduate, recalls working with Dr. D鈥橢lia during her degree.

鈥淗e鈥檚 been a mentor and most importantly a friend to so many students like me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 met Dr. D鈥橢lia when I was struggling in a required class. He took the time out to find solutions for me and give me advice on how I could find a way to get what I needed for my degree. He not only took his time out to mentor me but he has become an important part of my life ever since that moment as a friend and father figure to someone like me who lost her father so young. I am very thankful for Dr. D鈥橢lia and all he has accomplished 星空无限传媒. Now it鈥檚 time for him to finally retire and enjoy time with his amazing wife Jenny. I just want to say one last thank you to him from the bottom of my heart.鈥� 

He also worked to bridge the worlds of fine arts and sciences, becoming a regular collaborator with the LSU School of Music, bringing student enrichment programs into CC&E.

D鈥橢lia is also notable for his generosity, as he and his wife set up an endowed professorship for future Deans of CC&E and an endowed student scholarship in the LSU School of Music. And although he is retiring, D'Elia's love for LSU continues, as he has generously offered to continue supporting the College whenever needed.