[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 94 (Thursday, June 7, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3291-S3292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO DR. LINDA L.M. BENNETT

 Mr. YOUNG. Mr. President, today I wish to thank Dr. Linda L.M. 
Bennett for her remarkable career as president of the University of 
Southern Indiana, USI. Dr. Bennett started with the university in 2003 
and became its third president on July 1, 2009. She will be retiring on 
June 30, 2018, after 15 years of dedicated service.
  Dr. Bennett truly exemplifies the university's vision, ``shaping the 
future through learning and innovation,'' and her work hasn't gone 
unheeded. Under her leadership, the University of Southern Indiana 
established its first two strategic plans, raising the academic 
standards, community engagement, and faculty development.
  Throughout her career, President Bennett has served with the American 
Association of Colleges and Universities, Indiana Campus Compact Board, 
the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference Council of 
Presidents, and the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities 
Executive Committee. During her tenure as president, USI implemented 
its first doctoral program, doctor of nursing practice, and expanded 
its engineering and MBA programs.
  In addition to her time as president, Dr. Bennett has contributed to 
a wide variety of local organizations, including the Southwest Indiana 
Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Evansville, the Diversity Lecture 
Series, the Indiana University School of Medicine Advisory Board of 
Directors, the Red Cross, the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, United 
Way, Mesker Park Zoo Planning Committee, Holly's House, Joshua Academy, 
the Wellborn Baptist Foundation, the Mayor's Education Roundtable, the 
Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, and the Rotary 
Club of Evansville. Over the past few years, Dr. Bennett has received 
several awards, including the 2015 Rotary Civic Award, the Boy Scouts 
of America Buffalo Trace Council Distinguished Citizen Award, 2017, the 
Indiana Commission for Women Torchbearer Award, 2017, and the Girl 
Scouts of Southwest Indiana Women of Distinction award in 2018.
  Although Dr. Bennett's retirement marks the end of a chapter, it also 
presents the opportunity for an exciting new beginning. I congratulate 
her on all of her achievements as USI's president and look forward to 
her further contributions to the Hoosier community.

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