Rodney D. Bennett Explained

Rodney Bennett
Office:	21st Chancellor of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Term Start:	July 1, 2023
Predecessor:	Ronnie D. Green
Office1:	10th President of the University of Southern Mississippi
Term Start2:	April 1, 2013
Term End2:	June 30, 2023
Predecessor2:	Martha Dunagin Saunders
Successor2:	Joseph Paul
Birth Date:	15 August 1966
Spouse:	Temple Bennett
Education:	Middle Tennessee State University (BS, MEd, EdS) Tennessee State University (EdD)
Module:	Child: yes Thesis Title: The impact of selective factors related to completing the Doctor of Arts degree at Middle Tennessee State University Thesis Url: https://www.proquest.com/docview/304368409/ Thesis Year: 1996 Doctoral Advisor: Paul Caraher Discipline: Education Workplaces: University of Georgia Winthrop University Middle Tennessee State University University of Southern Mississippi University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Rodney D. Bennett is the appointed chancellor of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.^[1] He was the former President of the University of Southern Mississippi. Bennett received his Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication, Master of Education, and Education Specialist degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and earned his Ed.D. from Tennessee State University in Educational Administration. Bennett served as Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Georgia, and in 2013 Bennett was appointed the 10th President of the University of Southern Mississippi.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Shortly after his appointment, the Hattiesburg campus of the University of Southern Mississippi was struck by an EF4 tornado, which did not involve any loss of life due to a students' break for Mardi Gras holiday.^[5] In 2017, William Carey University, also located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was struck by a tornado, and Bennett's leadership in providing temporary space at the University of Southern Mississippi later resulted in him being honored with a doctor of humane letters, honoris causa, from William Carey.^[6] He was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa in 2019 at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Bennett was the first African-American president of a historically and predominantly white higher education institution in Mississippi.^[7]

On July 1, 2023, Bennett took office as the 21st chancellor of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, replacing outgoing chancellor Ronnie D. Green.

External links

• Office of the President – University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rodney D. Bennett, Ed.D., appointed UNL’s 21st chancellor. University of Nebraska News and Media. University of Nebraska News and Media . 23 June 2023.
2. Web site: Bennett Named President of the University of Southern Mississippi. Mississippi Public Universities. Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning . 7 February 2018.
3. Web site: Tisdale. David. Bennett Named 10th President at The University of Southern Mississippi. Southern Miss Now. University of Southern Mississippi. 7 February 2018.
4. Web site: USM gets new president with selection of Ga. educator Rodney Bennett. Mississippi Business Journal . 7 February 2018.
5. News: USM students join tornado cleanup effort . 7 February 2018. 16 WAPT News. 13 February 2013.
6. Web site: University of Southern Mississippi President Rodney Bennett Awarded Honorary Degree from William Carey University. Mississippi Economic Council. 7 February 2018.
7. Web site: Rodney D. Bennett . 6 February 2018.