Ronald Rochon

Ronald Stephen Rochon is an American educator and academic administrator. He has served as the 4th president of the University of Southern Indiana since 2018. He will begin his term as president of California State University, Fullerton on July 22, 2024.

Early life and education
Ronald Stephen Rochon was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Willibrord Catholic High School.

Rochon attended Tuskegee Institute and graduated with a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1983. He earned a master's degree in animal sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1986. In 1997, Rochon received a PhD in educational policy studies from the University of Illinois.

Career
Rochon worked as a professor at Texas A&M University, Washington State University, and the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. He served as the inaugural dean of the School of Education at Buffalo State University.

In 2010, Rochon began his tenure as provost at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana. He became the fourth president of USI on July 1, 2018. He is the first African American president of the university and was inaugurated on April 5, 2019. He guided the university through the COVID-19 pandemic and presided over USI athletics' move from NCAA Division II to Division I.

Rochon has served as chair of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' board of directors since 2023.

In May 2024, Rochon announced that he would be stepping down from his position as president of the University of Southern Indiana after accepting a new position as president of California State University, Fullerton. The following week, USI announced that Steven J. Bridges would replace Rochon as interim president effective July 20, 2024.

Personal life
Rochon's wife, Lynn, serves as the first lady of the University of Southern Indiana. They reside in the Evansville-area suburb of Newburgh and have two adult children.

Rochon is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.