At its regular meeting Thursday, January 9 in Indianapolis, the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees approved the conferral of honorary doctoral degrees to William C. “Bill†Stone, Mary O’Daniel Stone and Dr. Nadine A. Coudret. All recipients will be recognized and presented with their degrees at the spring 2020 Graduate Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 8.
Bill and Mary O’Daniel Stone will receive honorary Doctor of Laws degrees. A native of Evansville, Bill Stone founded SS&C Technologies, Inc. in 1986 and has remained chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the company since its founding. Bill and Mary, both members of the class of 1973 of Memorial High School, remain generous supporters of Evansville and the Tri-state, and the multi-institutional Stone Family Center for Health Sciences is named in their honor.
Dr. Nadine A. Coudret, dean emerita of the College of Nursing and Health Professions and professor emerita of nursing, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Coudret served as dean for 24 years, joining USI in 1988 with the charge to develop a nursing program at the University and retiring in 2011. During her tenure, the College of Nursing and Health Professions launched bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing, as well as Indiana’s first baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene and programs in diagnostic sonography and food and nutrition. Coudret additionally served the University as interim provost in 2009 following the selection of Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett as president.
In other business, the board of trustees heard a report on campus safety protocols and efforts and reviewed existing construction projects.
