Etheridge tapped as Director of Housing and Residence Life

Following a national search, Dr. Lori Etheridge has been selected as Director of Housing and Residence Life at the University of Southern Indiana, effective Monday, July 27. She will report to Dr. Abeer Mustafa, Vice President for Student Affairs.

In her role, Etheridge will lead campus housing operations and enhance the student residential experience. Etheridge will oversee Housing and Residence Life operations, collaborate with campus partners to support students living on campus and provide leadership for the department's staff and daily operations.

Prior to USI, Etheridge served as Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Brescia University, where she provided leadership for a broad range of student affairs functions, including residence life and housing, counseling and wellness, student activities and leadership, campus security, career services, campus ministry and student conduct. During her tenure, she expanded student wellness initiatives by launching virtual counseling services and a virtual calming room.

Etheridge also served as Director of Residence Life at Shenandoah University and Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life at Kentucky Wesleyan College. In these roles, she oversaw housing and residential operations while helping develop first-year learning communities and initiatives designed to support student success.

Earlier in her career, Etheridge held residence life leadership positions at Radford University and Binghamton University, where she helped implement innovative residential curriculum models, enhanced resident assistant training and supported diverse residential communities.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in counselor education – clinical mental health, both from Radford University. Etheridge also earned a doctorate in leadership from the University of the Cumberlands.