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Commencement speakers are selected among people who have made exceptional contributions to their field, the community, or society and serve as inspiring examples to graduates and the university community.

Since 2012, when USI started hosting multiple ceremonies, spring commencement speakers are selected among distinguished alumni and fall commencement speakers are faculty members who are recipients of the Distinguished Professor Award and the H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award.

Spring 2023

School of Graduate Studies Ceremony

Matthew S. Keener '05 M'12, President of Keener Marketing Solutions LLC, Chandler, Indiana

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Virgilio E. Paulino '18, Manager of Data Management, Sharing and Privacy, Capital One, Wilmington, Delaware

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Jared R. McIntosh '11, Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager, Fifth Third Bank, Evansville, Indiana

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

Colonel Connie L. Winik M'08 D'17, Chief Nurse, 959th Medical Group, Brooks Army Medical Center, Joint Base, San Antonio - Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Breasha L. Pruitt '08, Owner, Breasha Pruitt Elite Gymnastics, Evansville, Indiana

Fall 2023

Dr. Jill M. Raisor, Professor of Teacher Education, 2023 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Dr. Mark D. Krahling, Associate Professor of Chemistry, 2023 recipient of the H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award

Spring 2022

Graduate Ceremony

Justin M. Groenert M'16, Vice President of Public Policy, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Chattanooga, Tennessee

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

James W. Beck '92, Global Vice President of Corporate Communications for Alcoa Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, President of University of Southern Indiana

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Dr. Kester A. Phillips '02, Medical Director of Neuro-Oncology, Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment and Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, Washington

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Janet Heldt Baas '86, Senior Vice President and Foundation President, Old National Bank, Evansville, Indiana

Fall 2022

Dr. Melissa J. Stacer, Professor of Criminal Justice, 2022 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Dr. Stephanie L. Young, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, 2022 recipient of the H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award

Spring 2021

No commencement speakers. 

Fall 2021

Dr. Silvia Rode, Professor of German, 2020 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Jenn Horn, instructor in English, 2020 recipient of the H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award

Spring 2020

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, commencement exercises were switched to a virtual format and there were no commencement speakers.

Fall 2020

No commencement speakers.

Spring 2019

Graduate Ceremony

Dr. Donna M. White D'16, Associate Professor of Nursing at Hannibal-LaGrange College in Golden, Illinois

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Amy L. Beard '09, General Counsel for the Indiana Department of Insurance

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

Dr. Stanley J. Tretter M'17, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Memorial Hospital in Jasper, Indiana

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

B.J. Watts '01, Chair of the Indiana State Board of Education

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Wayne S. Trockman '81, Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge

Fall 2019

Dr. Ernest H. Hall, Jr., Professor of Management, 2019 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Dr. Sakina M. Hughes, Associate Professor of History, 2019 recipient of the H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award

Spring 2018

Graduate Ceremony

Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett, USI President

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Patricia S. Avery '04, Financial Empowerment Program Specialist at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C.

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

Kimberly J. Harper '87 M'13, Chief executive officer at the Indiana Center for Nursing in Indianapolis

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Dr. Kirt A. Page '98, Dean of Academic Affairs at Connect University in Yangon, Myanmar

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Marshall L. Byers '94, Private Client Advisor Vice President for Investments for J.P. Morgan Chase in Indianapolis

Fall 2018

Dr. Glenna Bower, Professor of Kinesiology and Sport, 2018 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Xavia Harrington-Chate, Instructor in English, 2018 recipient of the H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award

Spring 2017

Graduate Ceremony

Amy Jo Sheeley '01 '05 M'06, Practice Administrator for St. Vincent Medical Group – Evansville OB/GYN

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Dr. Jennifer C. Wright '03, Branch Chief of Customer Value Assessment and Program Manager of Voice of the Customer with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

Josh Bowman '09, Health Facility Administrator with Bethel manor

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Dr. Hans Schneider '01, Senior Project Manager for Bartlett Cocke General Contractors Austin Self-Perform and Warranty Division

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Nitin Naidu '00, President and Founder of Spice Box in Indianapolis

Fall 2017

Dr. Stephen C. Zehr, Professor of Sociology, 2017 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Robert Millard-Mendez, Professor of Art, 2017 recipient of the H. Lee Cooper Core Curriculum Teaching Award

Spring 2016

Graduate Ceremony

Danyelle E. Granger M’06, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Director, Old National Bancorp

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Becky J. Boling ’75, professor of Spanish and Latin American literature at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

Lisa R. Gish ’00 M’04, Director of Clinical Operations, Tri-State Community Clinics, LLC

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Eileen M. Weber ’98, Product Manager – Section 1; FGN Global Product Manager Automotive Lighting, Red Spot Paint and Varnish Co., Inc.

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Robert A. Hon ’89, Manager Director, Wells Fargo Advisors

Fall 2016

Dr. Kathy V. Rogers, Professor Emerita of Mathematics, 2016 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Spring 2015

Graduate Ceremony

D. Keith Jewell '86 M'91, President of St. Mary’s Health in Evansville, Indiana

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Bryan R. Harper '96, Executive Producer, Vikings Entertainment Network

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

 Lisa F. Hancock '97, Senior Vice President, Advisory Services at Marwood Group

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Harolyn G. Torain '71, Retired Educator

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Eric R. Williams '89, Senior Vice President, Director of Security, Old National Bank

Fall 2015

Kathryn M. Waters, Professor of Art, 2015 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Spring 2014

Graduate Ceremony

Dr. Jill M. Chonody ’95 M’97, Associate Professor, Social Work Program, College of Health and Human Services, Indiana University Southwest

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Michael L. Good '97, Vice President and Strategic Account Manager, Walker Information, Inc.

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

Tonya S. Heim M'03 '08 M'09, Vice President Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Dr. Cathlin S. Gray '85, Associate Superintendent for Family, School, and Community Partnerships, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Donald R. Breivogel, Jr. '83, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Atlas World Group, Inc.

Fall 2014

Dr. Kent W. Scheller, Associate Professor of Physics, 2014 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Spring 2013

Graduate Ceremony

Chad J. Hartmann '95 M'00, Mathematics Teacher, Helfrich Park Middle School, Evansville, Indiana

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Dr. Paul J. Ramsey '99, Assistant Professor, College of Education, Eastern Michigan University

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

Elizabeth J. Brown '92 M'04, Principal at ELLO Consulting, LLC; Quality Consultant at LifePoint Hospitals

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Rhonda M. Brown '92, Manager of STEM for Lake County, Florida

Romain College of Business Ceremony

David E. Goodman '79, CEO of Advanced Green Technologies and CEO of Edenark Group

Fall 2013

Dr. Robert E. Boostrom, Professor of Education, 2013 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

Spring 2012

Graduate Ceremony

Dr. Sheila L. Hauck M'97 D'11, Executive Director of Professional Practice, Oncology, and Palliative Care, St. Mary's Medical Center, Evansville, Indiana

College of Liberal Arts Ceremony

Joycelyn Winnecke '82, Vice President and Associate Editor, Chicago Tribune

College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony

J. Wayne Meriwether M'08, Principal at ELLO Consulting, LLC; Chief Operation Officer, Methodist Hospital

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony

Dr. Joey Barnett '81, Professor of Pharmacology, Medicine, Pediatrics, and Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology; Vice Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University

Romain College of Business Ceremony

Valerie A. McKinney M'05, CEO of Global Serialization Operations for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Inc.

Fall 2012

Dr. Paul A. Kuban, Associate Professor of Engineering, 2012 recipient of the USI Distinguished Professor Award

From 2011 - 2007, USI hosted only two Commencement ceremonies a year. The Spring and Fall ceremony each had one commencement speaker.

Spring 2011

J. Brad Ellsworth '81, President of Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana - North

Fall 2011

Dr. Barbara A. Davis, Professor Emerita of Nursing, 2011 USI Old National Bank Distinguished Professor

Spring 2010

Robert C. Roeder '71, Principal and Senior Human Capital Consultant, Mercer, Inc.

Fall 2010

Dr. Brian L. McGuire, Professor of Accounting, 2010 USI Integra Bank Distinguished Professor

Spring 2009

Dr. H. Ray Hoops, President, University of Southern Indiana

Fall 2009

Dr. Kevin J. Valadares, 2009 USI Integra Bank Distinguished Professor

Spring 2008

Sherrianne M. Standley, Vice President emeritus of Advancement, University of Southern Indiana

Fall 2008

Dr. Sherry B. Darrell, 2008 USI Integra Bank Distinguished Professor

Spring 2007

Jean LemMon, Award-winning journalist and entrepreneur

Fall 2007

Dr. Paul Doss, 2007 USI Integra Bank Distinguished Professor

From 1970-2006, USI hosted one Commencement ceremony in the Spring.

Spring 2006 - Martha Lamkin, President and CEO of Lumina Foundation for Education

Spring 2005 - Charles C. Huppert, Businessman and War Hero

Spring 2004 - Melissa S. May, Indiana Court of Appeals

Spring 2003 - Joseph E. Kernan, Lt. Governor, State of Indiana

Spring 2002 - Edward G. Boehne, Retired President and CEO Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia 

Spring 2001 - Helen Thomas, Author and Hearst Newspaper Columnist

Spring 2000 - Dr. David Hamburg, President emeritus of Carnegie Foundation

Spring 1999 - Frank McDonald II, Mayor of Evansville and USI alumni

Spring 1998 - H. Lee Cooper, Chairman of the Board CNB Bancshares, Inc.

Spring 1997 - Ann M. Stack, Publisher Emeritus of Arts Indiana Magazine 

Spring 1996 - Evan Bayh, Governor, state of Indiana 

Spring 1995 - Randall T. Shepard, Evansville native and Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court

Spring 1994 - Gordon St. Angelo, Program Officer for Community Development at the Lilly Endowment 

Spring 1993 - Larraine R. Matusak, Leadership Scholar, W.K. Kellogg Foundation 

Spring 1992 - George B. Weathersby, Educator and Business Executive; former Chairman of Indiana Commission for Higher Education 

Spring 1991 - John J. Pruis, Educator and Business Executive; Chairman of the Board of Incorporators for a Separate State University in Southwestern Indiana

Spring 1990 - Judith G. Clabes, Editor of The Kentucky Post 

Spring 1989 - Lee. H. Hamilton, Former Chairman of the Mead Johnson Company

Spring 1988 - Ernestine M. Raclin, Chairman of the Board of First Source Corporation and First Source Bank, South Bend, Indiana 

Spring 1987 - James Thomas Morris, President, Lilly Endowment, Inc. of Indianapolis

Spring 1986 - Robert Dunkerson Orr, Governor, state of Indiana; Native of Evansville 

Spring 1985 - William Knowlton Zinsser, Author and Editor of the Book-of-the-Month Club 

Spring 1984 - Beurt Richard SerVaas, Chairman of the Board, Curtis Publishing Company; President, SerVaas, Inc. 

Spring 1983 - Reverend Francis Raymond Shea, Archbishop of Evansville Catholic Diocese 

Spring 1982 - John Massie Mutz, Lt. Governor, state of Indiana; Former State Senator

Spring 1981 - James R. Harris, Administrator of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining; Former State Senator 

Spring 1980 - Wynetka Ann Reynolds, Provost, Ohio State University 

Spring 1979 - William Robert Burleigh, Former editor of The Evansville Press; Editor of The Cincinnati Post 

Spring 1978 - Russell G. Lloyd, Mayor, city of Evansville

Spring 1977 - Virgil Alfred Clift, Professor Emeritus, New York University; Editor, Encyclopedia of Black America

Spring 1976 - No speaker.

Spring 1975 - Alan Carson Rankin, President, Indiana State University 

Spring 1974 - Sylvia Fidd Porter, Author and nationally syndicated columnist 

Spring 1973 - Robert Dunkerson Orr, Educator and Chairman, History and Psychology, Evansville, Indiana Schools (retired) 

Spring 1972 - Richard Green Lugar, Mayor, Indianapolis, Indiana 

Spring 1971 - Peter Parker Muirhead, Executive Deputy Commissioner of Education Department of Health Education and Welfare 

Spring 1970 - No speaker.