Higher Education Veteran John Roush Joins H+C as Advisor
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Hastings+Chivetta is pleased to announce that John Roush, President Emeritus at Centre College, will be collaborating with our team as an Education and Leadership Advisor. We look forward to learning more about John’s experience and knowledge to fully understand our clients and meet their varied planning and design needs. Hastings+Chivetta President Chris Chivetta states, “Our trusted partnership with John has been established over years of partnering with him to achieve his vision for Centre College, which will allow us to view our higher education practice from a new perspective. We are thrilled to have John on board to help us collaborate with new institutions.”
John recently wrapped up a successful 22-year tenure as the 20th president of Centre College on June 30, 2020. Most recently, he served as the volunteer running back coach for Centre’s varsity football team during the 2020-2021 season. John leaves behind a legacy of achievement at Centre, by increasing the student population 40% and elevating the College’s academic profile, overall diversity and international focus. Some highlights of his tenure include leading new construction on the Campus Center, Pearl Hall, the A. Eugene Brockman Commons, Young Hall, and more. The Crounse Hall library and Sutcliffe Hall fitness and recreation facility were successfully renovated under his leadership. In the academic realm, John revised and updated the College’s curriculum, added 14 endowed professorships, and instituted the Centre Scholars Program to honor outstanding work at the junior faculty rank. Additionally, John launched two capital campaigns – the $169 million “Campaign for A More Perfect Centre” and the $210 million “Third Century Campaign.” He most recently initiated an institutional planning process that holds promise to set a new standard for national liberal arts colleges.
John earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Ohio University’s Honors College in 1972 and a master’s and doctorate from Miami University in 1973 and 1979, respectively. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army before beginning his career at Miami University in 1972 as an assistant football coach for five years before transitioning to serve as Executive Assistant to the President. In 1982, John joined University of Richmond as Executive Assistant to the President and later became Vice President for Planning, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees. John became the 20th president of Centre College in 1998.
John is highly-respected in the world of higher education as a dedicated administrator and regular contributor to professional journals in the areas of leadership, governance and finance in higher education and intercollegiate athletics. He is active in the Association of Governing Boards, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Presbyterian Colleges, the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, and the American Council on Education.
John describes his time as president of Centre College as “a deeply personal, hands-on and time-intensive experience” and that “being at the College has been a blessing to us and our family. Susie [my wife] and I count it privilege to have served this institution.” We look forward to working with John in this professional capacity as he continues his life-long mission to enhance higher education.