Rodney Bennett

Dr. Rodney D. Bennett entered office as the 21st Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on July 1, 2023. He completed his tenure as chancellor on January 12, 2026.

Dr. Bennett led UNL in achieving increases in student enrollment and retention; ongoing growth in sponsored research awards; advancements in national rankings for academic excellence and student success; innovative research and academic program development; enhancements to shared governance processes; significant progress in fundraising and external outreach; investments to improve the quality of student life and the workplace environment for faculty and staff; and the implementation of changes to eliminate a historic budget deficit.

Prior to his tenure at UNL, Dr. Bennett served nearly ten years as President of The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), a comprehensive public research institution of approximately 14,000 students with campuses in South Mississippi and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Under his leadership, USM achieved R1 status; reached significant fundraising milestones; increased its annual economic impact; expanded operations along the Mississippi Gulf Coast; supported innovations in healthcare; invested in new faculty positions, student success programming, and capital improvements; and increased access to quality education and research programs. USM became one of only fourteen R1 institutions in the nation that compete at the NCAA Division I level and maintain accreditation in all four major areas of the Arts.

Dr. Bennett previously served more than a decade in senior level positions at the University of Georgia in Athens, where he chaired the institution’s NCAA certification review and self-study process; completed more than $150 million in facilities projects; re-established the Dean of Students office after more than two decades; enhanced on-campus student health and counseling services; and managed oversight of robust student programs and support services for an enrollment of more than 34,000.

Throughout his career, Dr. Bennett has demonstrated a strong commitment to community leadership and service, including board membership for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce; Nebraska Innovation Campus; Mississippi Aquarium; The First Bank (Hattiesburg); the Classic Center Cultural Foundation and Authority Board (Athens); the Northeast Georgia Girl Scouts of America; Catholic Health East (Philadelphia); and St. Mary’s Health Care System (Athens). As USM President, Dr. Bennett chaired the athletic conference board and served as a founding member of the Board of Managers for the College Football Playoff national championship. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Past Sire Archon for Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, The Boulé.

Dr. Bennett holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from Tennessee State University and specialist, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees from Middle Tennessee State University.

Dr. Bennett's wife, Temple, is a member of The Links, Inc., an international women’s social and public service organization founded on the principles of friendship and service, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She holds a Master of Business Education and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University. The couple has two adult daughters, Colby and Logan.