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Bridges tapped to serve as fifth President of the University of Southern Indiana

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The University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Steven J. Bridges as USI’s fifth President, effective immediately. Bridges has served as Interim President since July 20, 2024. The announcement was made at a special session of the Board on Wednesday, April 2.

“The USI Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to appoint Steve Bridges as our fifth President,” said Christine Keck, Chair of the USI Board of Trustees. “I congratulate Steve not only for his outstanding service as our Interim President since July 2024, but for his prior decades of dedicated service to USI. He is taking on this role at a critical and exciting time for USI, as we fully transition to Division I athletics and set our sights on even further excellence in all aspects of our operation. Steve has the full confidence of the USI Board of Trustees and the skills, integrity and vision to lead USI well into the future.”

Bridges, a two-time USI alumnus, is the first member of the USI alumni to serve as President of the University. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1989 and master’s degree in business administration in 1995.

He joined USI as a Staff Accountant in 1989 and went on to serve in leadership positions with increasing responsibilities, including Controller and Assistant Business Office Director, Banner Project Manager, Controller and Business Office Director, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Administration and Assistant Treasurer, and an interim appointment as Associate Vice President for Operations and Assistant Treasurer. Since April 2015, he served as the Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA), the University’s chief business and fiscal officer.

During his 36-year tenure at USI, he was responsible for business operations of the Finance and Administration function of the University, including the Budget Office, Business Office (Accounting, Accounts Payable, Bursar’s Office and USI Campus Store), Facility Operations and Planning, Foundation Accounting, Human Resources, Information Technology, Internal Audit, Procurement Services (Risk Management and Travel Services) and Public Safety. He also provided leadership for student loan accounting and collections, investment management accounting, debt management and accounting, auxiliary accounting, property accounting, completion of University financial statements and served as the business liaison for food services.

“Being selected as the fifth President of the University of Southern Indiana is the greatest honor of my career,” said Bridges. “To have worked and served alongside each of our past presidents over my nearly 36-years at USI is humbling. As President, I will be a history-driven and forward-thinking leader. The extraordinary education I received at USI has prepared me well and will continue to take center stage for our students. As a Screaming Eagle and one of 54,000 plus alumni, I am determined to continue to share the care and concern I received as a student and am proof of the transformative nature of higher education. USI is a big piece of my heart, and I am so proud to continue to serve the institution as President.”

The Presidential Search Committee and Board of Trustees carried out a nationwide search for the role, attracting a diverse pool of highly qualified candidates. These candidates included current university presidents, provosts, deans and student affairs executives, as well as executives from industries beyond higher education.

“The USI Presidential Search Committee poured through nearly 100 well-qualified resumes from national candidates,” remarked Christina Ryan, Chair of the USI Presidential Search and First Vice Chair of the USI Board. “After a rigorous process, the Committee put forward an accomplished slate of candidates for full Board of Trustees consideration. I am delighted that Steve Bridges, an outstanding USI alumnus and person of character, rose to the top of the list.”

During his time as VPFA, Bridges completed the largest single bond issuance in the history of the University and completed an auxiliary system bond issuance that was briefly the lowest rate in the history of state of Indiana higher education bond issuance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, decades of fiscal stewardship resulted in no layoffs or terminations at the University, when that was not the case for many in the higher education sector.

Bridges was instrumental in implementing the campus-wide Banner system, an administrative software application, on schedule, on budget and with very limited scope creep. He has also chaired numerous committees that advanced and supported the institution’s fiscal responsibilities.

He is invested in uplifting area youth and has been a dedicated supporter of Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana since 1999, serving as Finance/Audit Committee Chair, Long-Range Property Plan Committee Member and Treasurer. He also is a member of the WNIN Board, Ohio Valley Conference Board of Presidents, Evansville Regional Economics Partnership Board and Holy Name Church Finance Committee and Chair of the Central Association of College and University Business Officers Audit Committee.

Bridges resides in Henderson, Kentucky, with his wife Rosemary. They have three adult children and four grandchildren with a fifth on the way.

Lampkins Named Dean of the UE College of Education and Health Sciences

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EVANSVILLE, IND. (04/02/2025) Dr. Andy Lampkins has been named the Dean of the University of Evansville’s (UE) College of Education and Health Sciences, effective June 1, 2025. Dr. Lampkins has served as interim dean since September 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to the position.

Dr. Lampkins joined the faculty at UE in 2013 as the G. Richard and Rita ’59 Eykamp Endowed Chair in Chemistry. Prior to his time at UE, he held positions as a Walther Cancer Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Notre Dame and was a faculty member at Samford University. Dr. Lampkins’ research focuses on molecular synthesis, new reaction development, and drug design/discovery. Specifically, his group uses organic chemistry as a tool to address medical challenges, with ongoing projects aimed at the discovery of Alzheimer’s treatments, the synthesis of biologically active natural products, and the development of “smart” therapeutics.

“I am excited to officially step into the role of Dean and look forward to working alongside our faculty, staff, and students to continue to build on the outstanding legacy of the College of Education and Health Sciences,” said Dr. Lampkins. “This is an exciting time for the college, and I am committed to ensuring our students receive the best education while also fostering a culture of research and innovation.”

Dr. Lampkins succeeds Mary Kessler, who was appointed UE’s Acting Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost in September 2023.

“Dr. Lampkins has demonstrated exceptional leadership in his role as acting dean, and I have every confidence that he will continue to elevate the College of Education and Health Sciences,” said Mary Kessler, Acting Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “His passion for education and student success will be invaluable as he leads the college into its next chapter.”

The University of Evansville is a private, comprehensive university with a solid foundation in the arts and sciences and professional schools in business, engineering, education, and health sciences. Established in 1854, UE is recognized across the globe for its rich tradition of innovative, academic excellence and dynamic campus community of #Changemakers.

Dept. of Parks & Recreation Announces New Tepe Park Splash Pad

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Residents of the Tepe Park neighborhood will soon have a new way to cool off, with a splash pad set to open this summer.

Danielle Crook, Evansville’s Executive Director of Parks & Recreation, presented plans for the new splash pad to the Board of Park Commissioners at its meeting this afternoon. The project—one of three major park improvements announced this year, alongside new play spaces at Garvin Park and Fulton Park—is funded by the $24 million Parks Bond passed in 2024.

Work on the project is expected to begin this spring, with equipment arriving in June and the splash pad opening as soon as installation is complete.

“As we work to revitalize neighborhoods across Evansville, making sure every community has access to safe, well-maintained parks is a top priority,” said Mayor Stephanie Terry. “From new, safer playgrounds at Garvin and Fulton parks to this exciting new splash pad at Tepe Park, we’re making long-overdue investments that give families more places to play, gather, and make memories.”

The Tepe Park splash pad brings to life a vision first articulated years ago, as part of the Tepe Park Neighborhood Plan. This year, it became a reality through a partnership between the Department of Parks & Recreation and the Evansville Water Sewer Utility.

The project will be managed by Morley & Associates, with equipment provided by Playpros.

Trailblazers split road doubleheader at Southwestern Illinois College

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BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The Vincennes University baseball team picked up another big win over an NJCAA Division I program Wednesday morning when the Blazers split their mid-week doubleheader at Southwestern Illinois College.

Vincennes opened the doubleheader by taking game one by the final score of 2-0 before dropping game two to the Blue Storm 11-0.

The Trailblazers opened the doubleheader with a hard fought pitcher’s duel in game one, with neither team able to break onto the scoreboard in the first four innings of the game.

VU was able to get base runners early in the game, getting runners in scoring position in the first and third but were unable to get a run across until the fifth.

Vincennes took advantage of sophomore Bradyn Douglas (Frankton, Ind.) being hit by pitch early in the fifth inning, followed by a single by freshman Jevan Andrews (Hobart, Ind.) and a walk by sophomore Nate Montgomery (Lexington, Ind.) to load the bases with one out.

Freshman Carter Gricius (Scottsburg, Ind.) broke the scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly to score Douglas from third and give the Blazers the 1-0 advantage.

VU added to their lead in the sixth with sophomore Yancey Edlin (Pekin, Ind.) leading off the inning with a walk, advancing on a successful sacrifice bunt by freshman Evan Doran (Indianapolis, Ind.).

Edlin would then move up to third with a stolen base and come in to score on an RBI groundout by freshman Cole Trevino (Jasper, Ind.) to increase the VU lead to 2-0.

The VU pitching staff would hold onto this lead as the Blazers were able to keep the Blue Storm off the scoreboard and pick up the 2-0 shutout victory over Southwestern Illinois College.

Sophomore Carson Allen (Louisville, Ky.) got the start in game one for the Blazers, throwing three innings, allowing two hits and striking out four.

Freshman Wyatt Burris (Farmland, Ind.) was the first out of the bullpen for VU Head Baseball Coach Chris Barney, throwing three innings, allowing one hit and striking out one to pick up the winning decision.

Freshman Jakob Hoyer (Georgetown, Ind.) came in in the seventh inning, getting the final three outs on just 12 pitches as he comes away with the save.

The Blazers looked to keep the momentum going in game two of the day but were unable to keep the offense going.

Southwestern Illinois was the first to break onto the scoreboard in game two, scoring four runs in the third inning and breaking away with seven runs in the fourth.

Vincennes was able get a base runner in the fifth inning but was unable to push a run across to keep the game going as Southwestern Illinois College picked up the 11-0 victory.

Sophomore JD Bowser (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) got the start in game two for the Blazers, throwing three innings, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out three.

Freshman Kory Kingsbury (Evansville, Ind.) entered the game in the fourth, allowing four runs on three hits in one-third of an inning on the mound.

Donate Blood and Vote for Your Favorite Department at the First Evansville Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

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Evansville, Ind., (April 2, 2025)— Evansville first responders are on a mission to help save lives during a Battle of the Badges Blood Drive on Wednesday, April 9, at the Evansville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Meeting Room. Community members are invited to become a hero for patients in need by donating blood and voting for their favorite department as the Evansville Fire Department and the Evansville Police Department compete in this blood drive challenge.

Battle of the Badges blood drives help meet patients’ needs through a fun competition. Anyone who donates blood at this drive will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite department, and the department with the most votes will be declared the winner.

First responders witness firsthand how crucial blood donations can be to help save a patient’s life. The need for blood is constant, and every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. We depend on the generosity of donors to help ensure patients receive the care they need and deserve.

Evansville Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

Wednesday, April 9th

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Evansville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Meeting Room

801 Court Street

Evansville, IN 47708

Jamming the line: cutting off crime behind bars

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Attorney General Todd Rokita combats contraband cell phones in prisons 

Attorney General Todd Rokita announced today a bipartisan coalition effort to address the growing threat of contraband cell phones in prisons by advocating for the use of phone jamming technology. Joined by 30 attorneys general from across the nation, Attorney General Rokita is calling on the U.S. House and Senate to pass legislation to lift outdated restrictions and allow state and local correctional facilities to deploy jamming devices to halt illegal activities orchestrated from behind bars.

“Hoosiers deserve to feel safe, and that means stopping criminals from running their operations from inside prison walls,” said Attorney General Rokita. “Contraband phones aren’t just a nuisance. They’re weapons, and we’re fighting to disarm inmates.”

Contraband cell phones have become dangerous tools in the hands of incarcerated individuals, enabling them to coordinate crimes such as drug trafficking, gang violence, and even hits on law enforcement and civilians. In Indiana alone, the Department of Correction seizes hundreds of phones every year, and many more elude detection. Federal restrictions on the use of jamming technology exacerbate this problem.

The coalition’s letter to Congress highlights how inmates exploit contraband phones to:

  • Direct drug trafficking operations
  • Orchestrate violence inside and outside prison walls
  • Run sophisticated fraud schemes preying on vulnerable citizens
  • Intimidate witnesses and terrorize victims’ families
  • Plot escape attempts endangering law enforcement and the public

By disrupting illicit cell phone signals, jamming technology would sever the lifeline that inmates use to perpetrate crimes while preserving the safety of correctional officers, visitors and the public. A 2020 survey of 20 state corrections departments uncovered 25,840 contraband cell phones in a single year, a stark reminder of the scale of the problem.

The letter is attached here.

USI’s Austin snares two more OVC weekly honors

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EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Track & Field freshman Hadessah Austin has, once again, been recognized by the Ohio Valley Conference for her efforts on the track. Austin was named the OVC co-Female Track Athlete of the Week as well as the OVC Freshman of the Week in an announcement by the league office Wednesday afternoon.

It marks the third and fourth time this semester that Austin has earned an OVC weekly award after she was named OVC Freshman of the Week and OVC co-Track Athlete of the Week during the indoor season.

Austin finished fourth out of 99 competitors in the 10,000 meters last Thursday as she broke a USI rookie record with her time of 34 minutes, 30.10 seconds. It was the first-time in her career that Austin has competed in the 10,000 meters and she broke former mark of 35:17.31, which was set by former USI All-American Emily Roberts at the 2015 Mt. SAC Relays.

It is the third USI freshman record that Austin has broken this year after she set new rookie marks in the 3,000 meters and the 5,000 meters during the indoor season. Her 10,000-meter time Thursday ranks fourth all-time at USI and is the best in the Ohio Valley Conference by more than two minutes during the early portion of the outdoor campaign.

The Screaming Eagles return to action Friday and Saturday when they compete at the Eastern Illinois University Big Cat Classic in Charleston, Illinois. USI was originally slated to compete at the Joey Haines Invitational but altered their schedule due to the inclement forecast in the Cape Girardeau, Missouri, area.

Kate Petrova wins Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge

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Petrova shot a 4-under 67 in the final round

 PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – Tying for the second-lowest round in program history, Kate Petrova posted a 4-under 67 on Wednesday to take the individual championship at the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge at True Blue Golf Club.  Petrova’s efforts helped the University of Evansville women’s golf team earn a 5th place finish in the team standings.

Petrova’s round of 67 marked the lowest in her Purple Aces career and gave her a 3-round score of 208.  She finished one stroke ahead of a second-place tie.  After posting a 72 to open the event, Petrova shot a 1-under 70 in Tuesday’s second round.

Tying for 26th in the final standings was Mallory Russell.  She opened the tournament with a 71 and, following an 80 in the second round, posted a 74 on Wednesday.  He final score was a 225.  One behind Russell was Elizabeth Mercer.  A consistent weekend saw her register tallies of 75, 76, and 75 in the final round to finish with a 226.  She came in 37th place.

Louise Standtke and Trinity Dubbs tied for 56th with scores of 232.  Both improved as the tournament moved along.  After carding an 81 in the first 18 holes, Standtke had scores of 75 and 76 to finish with a 232.  Dubbs opened with a 79 before notching a 77 on Tuesday and a 76 in the final 18.

Evansville earned a 5th place finish with a score of 886.  Coastal Carolina took the team championship with an 855, finishing six strokes ahead of Middle Tennessee State.

On Sunday, the Aces open the ISU Spring Invite in Terre Haute.

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

Bannister and Goebel highlight Eagles’ third round to conclude play in South Carolina

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PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Golf wrapped up play at the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge in Pawleys Island, South Carolina on Wednesday, placing 16th on the team leaderboard.
 
The Screaming Eagles took on True Blue Golf Club in a highly competitive, deep tournament field this week. USI shot a team score of 892 (297, 300, 295) over the three-round tournament, which started on Monday, March 31. The teams played 18 holes each day of the tournament.
 
Senior Jason Bannister was USI’s highest finisher on the individual leaderboard, placing tied for 44th with a three-over 219 (75, 74, 70). Junior Carter Goebel was one stroke behind at 220 (72, 76, 72) and tied for 49th.
 
St. John’s University won the tournament with a total of 841 (285, 275, 281) and 23 under par. Out of the 17-team field, nine schools finished at even par or better.
 
On day one, Goebel paced the Eagles with an even 72. While the front nine tended to give the field some difficulty throughout the tournament, Goebel went out one under par on the front nine in round one. Goebel tallied a birdie and eight pars in the first nine on Monday. As a team, USI was 15th after the first 18 holes.
 
On a tough second day, USI dropped a spot to 16th. Bannister and freshman Alex Peck tied for Southern Indiana’s lowest rounds in round two with each sporting a 74 on Tuesday. For Peck, the 74 was one stroke off his career-best low round. The freshman notched five birdies in the second, while Bannister began his second 18 holes with 12 consecutive pars. The two each moved up a few spots on the individual leaderboard.
 
While the Screaming Eagles had their best team score in the third and final round on Wednesday, USI remained in 16th place. Individually, Bannister and Goebel were the biggest movers in the final round. Bannister leaped up 21 spots after a two-under 70 for USI’s best individual round of the tournament. Goebel jumped up 12 spots after his second even 72 of the tournament. Bannister and Goebel matched Peck’s birdie count in round two with five birdies of their own in the third round. Goebel had a stretch of three birdies in four holes on the front nine of Wednesday’s final round.
 
Southern Indiana will quickly turn around and get ready for the Tennessee State University Big Blue Intercollegiate at The Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee next week April 7-8. With two spring tournaments down, USI has only a couple more weeks and three more competitions on the schedule before the Ohio Valley Conference Championship April 20-23.

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