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 2024
School of Graduate Studies Ceremony
Dr. Kimberly R. McElroy-Jones M'13, Director of Community Partnerships for Community Health at Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, Indiana
Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony
Dr. Robin M. Verble '06, Director for the Ozark Research Field Station; Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri
College of Liberal Arts Ceremony
Shane M. Dearing '07, Chief Executive Officer of SAIVA AI, Carmel, Indiana
Romain College of Business Ceremony
Shan Sherwan Hussein '14 M'15, Women's Protection and Empowerment Coordinator-Emergency Roster for the International Rescue Committee; Women7 Advisor to Germany and Italy, Cambridge, Massachusetts
College of Nursing and Health Professions Ceremony
Dr. Sandra L. Hall '05, Director of Clinical Excellence at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Fall 2024
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.