USI Announces Next President

Rochon began as president in July.

The board of trustees for the University of Southern Indiana has appointed Ronald Rochon the university’s fourth president. Rochon, who has served as provost for USI since 2010, was chosen following a national search that included more than 90 candidates.

Rochon will begin his new role July 1, succeeding Linda Bennett, who will retire after nine years as president. Harold Calloway, chair of the USI Board of Trustees and chair of the search committee, says Rochon "has proven to be a strong leader and true person of character."

USI says during his tenure as provost, Rochon oversaw the revamping of the University Core Curriculum and led the creation and approval of the university’s second doctoral program in Educational Leadership. 

"My love for this institution comes directly from my love of teaching, and I’m proud that USI has some of the best educators at any university in the country," said Rochon. "The relationship between our faculty members and our students is crucial to our success, and I am excited to see what the next generation of Screaming Eagle role models will do when they come to campus and experience that relationship for themselves."

Prior to joining USI, Rochon served as the inaugural dean of the School of Education, associate vice president for Teacher Education and professor at Buffalo State in New York. He was also the co-founder of the Research Center for Cultural Diversity and Community Renewal at the University of Wisconsin-La Cross and served as chair of the Board of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education in Washington D.C.