UGA VP to head USM

ATHENS - The vice president of student affairs at the University of Georgia, 46 year-old Dr. Rodney Bennett, Thursday was named as the 10th president of the University of Southern Mississippi, that according to the USM website.

Bennett is the first black president of a predominantly white university in Mississippi.

According to the Athens Banner-Herald, Bennett also serves as Chair of the UGA Athletic Association NCAA Recertification process, is expected to start work at his new position sometime this spring, and will make $375,000 a year.