Holcomb appoints Hamami as USI Student Trustee

Fouad Hamami '25, political science major, has been selected as the USI Student Trustee and will serve a two-year term through June 30, 2025. He succeeds Liam Collins, Class of 2023, who served from 2021-23. 

A native of Evansville and graduate of Signature School, Hamami is the Founder of USI’s Mock Trial Team and a member of Student Government Association. He currently volunteers at Oasis Dementia Care assisting with resident activities, including playing the piano and arranging arts and crafts and special events.  

As Student Trustee, Hamami plans to bring a unique perspective to the Board in how to further connect USI students with the Evansville community. He wants to deepen his connection with the University, advocate for USI students and better connect with Evansville. 

The Student Trustee, a voting member of the nine-member USI Board of Trustees, brings a student perspective to the governing board. They must be a full-time student, a U.S. citizen and resident of Indiana, have a 2.5 GPA or above and have completed 24 semester credit hours at USI. 

Ryan, Knight reappointed to Board for four-year terms 

Governor Eric Holcomb reappointed two members of the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees for four-year appointments through June 30, 2027. Returning USI Trustees are Jeffrey (Jeff) Knight and Christina Ryan, of Evansville and Newburgh, respectively. 

Knight formerly served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel at Old National Bancorp in Evansville, Indiana. During his nearly 30-year tenure at Old National, he held various leadership positions, including Corporate Secretary, General Counsel and head of Government Relations. Knight serves as a Board Member for the Welborn Baptist Foundation, the Indiana Legal Foundation, the Government Affairs Committee of the Indiana Bankers Association, among others. He is also a member of the Indiana Business Law Survey Commission and the Board of Visitors for the University of Evansville. 

He holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Evansville and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis. 

Ryan currently serves as the CEO of The Women’s Hospital at Deaconess Health System, Inc. With over two decades of experience, she played a key role in establishing and successfully opening The Women’s Hospital in Newburgh, Indiana. Prior to joining Deaconess, Ryan served as the Director of Women and Children Services at St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center, Northwest Indiana. 

She actively participates in numerous organizations, including serving as a member of the Indiana Hospital Association, Indiana Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative for the Indiana State Department of Health, Ronald McDonald House Charities, among others. In addition, Ryan is involved with an array of community health partnerships, including working to reduce infant mortality and addressing southwest Indiana’s opioid and substance abuse crisis. 

Ryan has been recognized as one of Becker’s Hospital Review Top Female Healthcare Executives to Know and has received both the Next Generation of Women’s Health Leaders and 2018 Southwest Indiana Chamber ATHENA awards. She was also recently inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Elmhurst College and a master’s degree in health administration from Indiana University.