Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon brings over 30 years of higher education and public administration experience as he steps in as interim dean at TSU’s School of Public Affairs.
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| Texas Southern University appoints Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon, former Tuskegee University president, as interim dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs. Image courtesy: Kerrigan Williams |
Houston, Texas — February 7, 2025:
Texas Southern University (TSU) has appointed Dr. Gilbert L. Rochon, a seasoned higher education leader and former president of Tuskegee University, as the interim dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs (SOPA).
Dr. Rochon, who served as Tuskegee's sixth president from 2010 to 2013, brings more than three decades of experience in higher education and public administration. His background includes roles in academia, research, and government service, including appointments with NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, the USDA Forest Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"Dr. Rochon brings more than 30 years of higher education and public administration experience to the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs," said Dr. Carl B. Goodman, TSU's Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. "We are pleased that Dr. Rochon will bring his research-driven leadership to assess and evaluate the school's future direction while the university engages in a national search for a permanent dean."
Before joining TSU, Dr. Rochon served as Associate Vice President for Collaborative Research and Engagement at Purdue University for over eight years. He also held a long tenure as Conrad Hilton Endowed Professor and Director of the Urban Studies & Public Policy Institute at Dillard University.
Dr. Rochon expressed enthusiasm for his new role, stating, "I am excited about the opportunity to lead the accomplished faculty and staff of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs in this interim capacity. This school is known industry-wide and throughout academia for its impactful research and for preparing students to thrive in their chosen fields. I look forward to enhancing the services we provide to students."
Dr. Rochon holds a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Master of Public Health from Yale University School of Medicine, and a bachelor's degree from Xavier University of Louisiana.
He will officially assume his role on February 10.