Tailfeather

Aaron C. Trump secured his first job when he was 11 years old; three degrees and a string of legal positions later the Mt. Vernon, Indiana, native, (although born in Houston, Texas) became USI's Chief Government and Legal Affairs Officer in 2018. "I must have had 10 friends send the job posting to me," he said. The dual position—in-house legal counsel (USI's first) and state house lobbyist— enables him to advocate for higher education in a political arena where the stakes are high while also practicing law.

Aaron's respect for education grew from seeing his mother (a former USI employee) earn an associate degree in business from USI and a spot on the Dean’s list when she was 40. Aaron followed suit by earning a bachelor's degree in psychology and business, a master's in higher education and student affairs and a juris doctorate. While his Hoosier work ethic kicked into gear with his first job at age 11 (on a golf course because he wanted his own money to buy shoes for basketball season) it is still going strong today as he works to enrich USI in the minds of Indiana legislators.

What do you enjoy most about each of these diverse roles?

On the government affairs side, it is getting the opportunity to travel the state and share our USI stories. There is so much great work being done by staff and faculty on this campus to serve not only our students but the broader Evansville community and the southwest region.

On the legal side, it’s having a seat at the table with the administration and Board of Trustees to ensure that the decisions they make to continue advancing USI will not face compliance roadblocks down the line.

What aspect of each role is the most challenging?

For both, it is finding balance. The different roles each require full attention and can pull me in a variety of directions. Post pandemic meeting technology has improved the ability to stay connected but also resulted in expectations that you can be in two places at once. But many USI people perform in multiple roles, so I’m certainly not complaining.

What is your strategy for getting legislators to embrace and support USI?

When President Rochon and I enter these meetings, the repeated mantra is “USI is ready to serve.” We are always conveying the capacity of this institution and its people to drive Evansville and Indiana forward. It is also important to listen to what matters most to each individual we work with in the government and identify ways to either develop responsive programs or perhaps highlight work we are already doing that was going unrecognized.

What have been the biggest legislative wins for USI and how will they benefit students?

Most recently we were able to secure the most significant capital investment USI has ever received from the state at $83 million. This will fund a major renovation project affecting multiple campus structures and academic spaces used by our students. We were also able to obtain funding for a new summer program that will specifically support our most vulnerable students to help them be persistent from the start of their college enrollment all the way through graduation.

What one word describes you?

I could spend hours with a thesaurus and still not pin this down.

What book should everyone read, and why?

Exposure by Robert Bilott. It’s a memoir that follows the litigation surrounding PFOA and PFAS, referred to as "forever chemicals." Bilott put his entire legal career at risk by pursuing this case for almost 20 years without collecting fees because he believed in the cause.