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President Bennett receives 2015 Rotary Civic Award

April 19, 2016

The Rotary Club of Evansville named USI President Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett the 2015 Rotary Civic Award winner at its luncheon on April 19. The award has been given annually by the Club since 1927 to "publicly recognize persons for their outstanding civic, charitable, humanitarian, and/or cultural services to the City of Evansville and its people."  

Over the years the Rotary Club of Evansville has honored educators, business leaders, community volunteers, clergy members and others. In its citation, the Rotary said Bennett's "13 years of leadership in our community have ensured a brighter tomorrow for education, culture, economic development and our young people."

"We have come to love this community," Bennett said in accepting the award. "I have so loved working with so many people in the community, and I continue to do that. We're such a strong community, there are so many groups looking to see how we can improve the lives of everyone." 

Bennett joins both past USI presidents, Dr. H. Ray Hoops (2004) and Dr. David L. Rice (1985), as recipients of the Rotary Civic Award.

She became the third president of the University of Southern Indiana in July 2009, after serving as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs since 2003.  She is currently leading the University in the development of its second five-year strategic plan.

Since coming to USI, she 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 and taught courses in Introduction to American Politics for USI students.

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. 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.

President Bennett is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and earned bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of Cincinnati.

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