The university Board of Trustees appointed Steven Bridges as interim president, effective July 20, 2024. The announcement came from a USI press release, following a previous press release from former President Ronald Rochon announcing his acceptance of the presidency at California State University, Fullerton, starting July 22, 2024.
Rochon became university president in 2018 and is the university’s fourth president. He served six years as president.
In his farewell message, Rochon said his mantra has always been “student first.”
“It remains that because of you, I have a job,” Rochon said. “Because of you, we get to serve USI, most abundantly, most effectively because of your presence on our campus. Students are what makes faculty and staff come to work every single day with a smile on their face and their hearts filled with compassion and also the objective to serve effectively.”
He continued by thanking students for choosing USI and supporting the Rochon family. He also asked students to provide the same support to the incoming interim president, cabinet, faculty and staff.
“Mr. Steve Bridges is a phenomenal human being who knows this campus,” Rochon said. “He will hold the steering wheel steady. I promise you, you are in the best of hands.”
Bridges has 35 years of experience working at USI and is an alumnus of two degrees.
In a University Fall Meeting Aug. 13, Bridges announced the university would use a search firm to find candidates, and Christina Ryan, on the Board of Trustees and board first vice chair, would be leading the search committee.
Bridges said he is comfortable with Ryan leading this process.
“I know we’ll name a search firm soon, and then the timeline committee will follow,” he said.
During the University Fall Meeting, Bridges also mentioned a shift in the division of responsibilities among key leaders.
Bridges has been the vice president for finance and administration at the university since 2015 and is the chief business and fiscal officer.
The change to the division of responsibilities is some of his roles spread among key leaders:
- Aaron Trump, vice president for government affairs and general counsel, oversees Human Resources and Public Safety.
- Kindra Strupp, vice president for marketing and communication, oversees Sodexo Food Services.
- Jeff Sickman, assistant vice president for finance and administration oversees Procurement Services and Risk Management.
- Mary Hupfer, associate vice president for finance and administration, oversees Foundation Accounting.
- Bridges oversees Facility Operations and Planning, Internal Audit, and Information Technology.
Human Resources and Public Safety were moved to Trump.
“His background lends well to those two functions,” Bridges said.
Sodexo Food Services moved to Strupp.
He said Strupp was a nice fit because she handles the area of special events.
Procurement Services and Risk Management moved to Sickman and Foundation Accounting moved to Hupfer.
Bridges said Sickman has 30 years, Hupfer has 35 years of experience at USI and both are long-term employee.
“I turn to people that I trust heavily, to be honest with you, people that I know have the same sort of heart about this university that I have,” Bridges said.
As interim president, his role is broader than his recent position.
He said he wants to get more involved with the community.
Bridges has started working with community business leaders, state leadership and organizations involved with the region.
“And of course, working with the students like yourself and faculty and staff this week has been really big for me,” he said. “So that’s what I mean when I say ‘community involvement.’ And then I just want to prepare the institution for the permanent president going forward. I think by doing those two things that I’m talking about, that’ll put us in a good place.”
