EVANSVILLE – The University of Southern Indiana removed the “interim” from Steven Bridges’ title, naming him as the school’s new president during a board of trustees meeting on Wednesday.
Bridges has been filling the role since last spring, when former President Ronald Rochon left to take a job at California State University Fullerton. Now he’ll assume it on a permanent basis, capping more than 30 years of service at USI.
A USI graduate, Bridges has worked at the school since 1989 and most recently served as the vice president for finance and administration.
Bridges becomes the fifth president in the school’s history. David L. Rice founded the position in 1971, when USI was still a satellite campus of Indiana State University. He remained as the school became a separate entity in 1985, eventually retiring in 1994.
The University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees selected Steven Bridges, its vice president of finance and administration, to serve as interim president Friday, May 31, 2024.
Rice was followed by H. Ray Hoops, Linda Bennett and Rochon. Bridges takes over immediately.
He’ll likely become the highest-paid public employee in Vanderburgh County. Rochon and other past USI presidents routinely topped the list. In his final full year on the job in 2023, Rochon raked in more than $417,000 in compensation.
After it appointed Bridges as interim president last year, the board of trustees announced it would launch a national search for a permanent replacement. They hired Academic Searcha firm out of Washington D.C., to help find candidates.
The university never publicly announced any other candidates before eventually making an internal hire.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: University of Southern Indiana names new president