Trustees Announce Bennett as University's Third President
View the press
conference announcing USI's new president
View a
slideshow of photos of the announcement
The University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees appointed January
31 Dr. Linda L.M. Bennett as the third president of the
44-year old institution with more than 10,000 students.
Bennett joined USI in 2003 as provost and vice president for Academic
Affairs. She will become USI president on July 1, succeeding Dr. H. Ray
Hoops, who will retire June 30 after 15 years as president of the
University.
Since coming to USI, Bennett has led initiatives focused on enrollment
and retention management, outreach and engagement, faculty development,
the retention of intellectual capital, accreditation renewal, and
long-range planning. She coordinated the self-study, which led to the
approval of USI’s first doctoral program — Doctor of Nursing Practice —
by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. In
addition to serving as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs,
she is a professor of political science.
In the presidential search, the USI Board of Trustees adopted a
statement of leadership qualities that the new president should possess.
These include a demonstrated record of academic leadership, capacity for
resource development, ability to lead a complex institution, experience
in implementing new programs and achieving goals, commitment to shared
governance, recognition of the importance of student life activities to
the college experience, and commitment to partnership in regional
activities.
John M. Dunn, chair of the Board of Trustees and the Search and Screen
Committee, said the trustees were impressed with Bennett’s record of
intellectual accomplishment and leadership. She has more than 25 years’
experience in teaching, USI’s primary focus, and throughout her career
as an administrator has recognized the importance of an outstanding
faculty to a teaching institution with initiatives to enhance faculty
recruitment and retention, scholarship, and engagement.
Dunn added that the trustees were enthusiastic about Bennett’s
commitment to advance the outreach mission of the University. At USI,
she fostered the development of Connect with Southern Indiana, a
regional leadership program.
Bennett came to USI from Appalachian State University in Boone, North
Carolina, where she served from 1999-2003 as dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences and professor of political science. At Appalachian State,
she established a college-wide Diversity Committee to develop strategies
for faculty recruitment and retention. She also led the College of Arts
and Sciences Advancement Council in statewide friend-and fund-raising
efforts, including a capital campaign that raised more than $5 million.
Bennett’s experience in higher education includes service at two other
universities. From 1996-99, she was chair of the Department of Political
Science and professor of political science at Northern Kentucky
University. From 1983-96, she was associated with Wittenberg University.
She chaired the Department of Political Science from 1994-96 and rose to
the rank of professor in 1996.
Bennett is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned bachelor’s,
master’s, and doctoral degrees in political science from the University
of Cincinnati.
Her husband Dr. Stephen E. Bennett is a USI adjunct faculty member in
political science and public administration. They reside in Evansville.
Dunn thanked members of the Search and Screen Committee for their
participation in the process of recommending candidates to the Board of
Trustees. A broad-based committee of University constituents was
selected in early 2008 after Hoops announced his intention to retire.
In addition to Dunn, committee members included W. Harold Calloway,
Jamie L. Johnson ’09, Jeffrey L. Knight, Amy MacDonell, and Ted C.
Ziemer, Jr., Board of Trustees; Dr. Peter Cashel-Cordo (Business), Dr.
Charles L. Price (Education and Human Services), Dr. J. Wayne Rinks
(Liberal Arts), Dr. Kathy V. Rodgers (Science and Engineering), and Dr.
Mayola Rowser ’95 M’99 (Nursing and Health Professions), Faculty Senate;
Linda L. Cleek ’82, Extended Services; David O’Grady, Staff Council;
Raul Ramirez ’09, Student Government Association; Dr. Mohammed Khayum,
senior administrator; Jessica McCarthy ’00, Alumni Association; Bix
Branson, USI Foundation; and Bruce H. Baker and Chris Melton ’72,
community representatives. Sherrianne M. Standley, vice president
emerita for Advancement, was search coordinator.
Located in Evansville, the University of Southern Indiana is a
comprehensive public university offering more than 60 undergraduate
academic majors, 10 master’s programs, and one doctoral program. The
University offers a full range of support services and activities for
students.
