College Board announces preferred USM presidential candidate | News

JACKSON, MS (WDAM)- The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning announced Friday their preferred candidate for the new president of The University of Southern Mississippi.

The Board named Rodney Bennett of The University of Georgia.

Bennett is currently the vice president for student affairs at UGA.

He received his undergraduate degree at Middle Tennessee State University and a doctorate of education at Tennessee State University in Nashville. Before joining UGA in 2001, Bennett was dean of students at Winthrop University in South Carolina.

The president of USM's Faculty Senate, Dr. Mary Ann Adams, is excited about the choice of Dr. Bennett as the preferred candidate.

She was a member of the search committee that recommended Bennett and three other candidates for USM's top job. She said he has a strong background in both research and leadership.

"He brings a lot of excitement, ability to bring people together," Adams said. "He seems to be very much a people person and I think right now, we need that cohesion and pulling together, moving forward," she said.

Adams said she and other Faculty Senate members look forward to meeting with Bennett when he visits the campus next week.

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