Office of the President
President Rodney D. Bennett
Dr. Rodney D. Bennett is in his tenth year of service as the institutional executive officer and principal educational officer for The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), a comprehensive public research institution delivering transformative programs to more than 14,000 students on campuses in South Mississippi and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His appointment made history, as he became the first African-American president of a predominantly white higher education institution in Mississippi.
USM's R1 research enterprise includes experts in ocean science and engineering, polymer science and engineering, and large event venue safety and security, among others. USM is also one of only 39 institutions in the nation accredited in all four major areas of the Arts: theatre, art and design, dance, and music. As an economic driver, USM generates an annual economic impact of more than $663 million across the state.
Dr. Bennett’s vision is for The University of Southern Mississippi to become the model for public higher education across the country. His key institutional priorities include ensuring student success; expanding enrollment strategies; enhancing academic instruction; fostering greater focus on research; bolstering economic and community partnerships; and maximizing human potential. Under his leadership, USM has achieved R1 status; invested in new faculty positions, diversity and inclusion initiatives, student success programming, and nearly $300 million in capital improvements; enhanced community partnerships; expanded operations along the Mississippi Gulf Coast; supported innovations in healthcare; and worked to increase access to quality education and research programs to serve the needs of the state of Mississippi and beyond. He also chaired the athletic conference board and represented the conference as a founding member of the Board of Managers for the College Football Playoff national championship.
Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Bennett served more than a decade in senior level positions at the University of Georgia in Athens, where he chaired the institution’s NCAA certification review and self-study process; completed more than $150 million in facilities projects; implemented emerging sustainability best practices; re-established the Dean of Students office after more than two decades; and managed oversight of a robust on-campus health center with more than 20 healthcare providers, which was continually accredited by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, as well as a dedicated student counseling services unit.
Throughout his career, Dr. Bennett has demonstrated a strong commitment to community leadership and service, including board membership for the Mississippi Aquarium; The First Bank (Hattiesburg); the Classic Center Cultural Foundation and Authority Board (Athens); the Northeast Georgia Girl Scouts of America; Catholic Health East (Philadelphia); and St. Mary’s Health Care System (Athens), which included a 196-bed hospital, 134-unit senior community, 34-bed Alzheimer’s facility, 12-bed hospice house, home care agency, medical group, and ambulatory care outpatient center. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Past Sire Archon for Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, The Boulé.
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Dr. Bennett, 55, holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from Tennessee State University in Nashville and specialist, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.
The Bennett Family
Dr. Bennett's wife, Temple (at left), is a member of The Links, Inc., an international
women’s social and public service organization founded on the principles of friendship
and service, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
She holds a Master of Business Education and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University.
The couple has two adult daughters, Colby and Logan.