Getting to Know You: Jennifer Rhoades
Though Jennifer Rhoades has only been in the USI Alumni Engagement and Volunteer USI office for a few months, she is not new to campus. In fact, USI is a familiar home to her. “I am an alum of the University; I graduated in 2002 with a major in advertising and a minor in interpersonal communications,” she explains.
After spending a career in advertising, Rhoades saw an opportunity to return to her alma mater and knew she couldn’t pass it up.
Q: Tell us a bit about your career and journey to USI.
I enjoyed my college experience at USI. I lived on campus in the Bigger Building with my sister and two other students. I met so many wonderful friends and had great professors. Dr. Leigh Anne Howard was one of my amazing professors. She expected her students to put a lot of work into their projects and assignments, and I learned so much about the importance of communication, research and attention to detail. One of my classes also got to interact with students at the Boys and Girls Club. We performed skits for and with them, and we played games with them at the after-school club.
For the majority of my career (23 years), I was with Tucker Publishing Group. I started as an advertising coordinator, and for the last 15 years, I enjoyed my role as senior account executive. I met with a range of business leaders and family-owned businesses to share how to reach the paid subscribers of Evansville Living and Evansville Business magazines. I helped coordinate the 25th anniversary celebration for Evansville Living in 2025. We hosted a wonderful party for contributors, readers, advertisers and supporters of the magazine at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science.
I have lived in Newburgh, Indiana, for many years with my family—my husband John and daughter Hayden. Hayden attended Signature School and graduated in May 2026. She is attending USI this Fall, working to join the Diagnostic Sonography Program. She is living in a freshman residence hall with three other students. We had fun this summer shopping for her new space.
Q: What drew you to your position as Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Volunteer USI?
I felt ready for a new career adventure toward the end of last year. I always thought I’d like to work at USI if the right position came along. When I saw the job post for the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Volunteer USI, I felt excited about the prospect of communicating with alumni and letting them know about all the great progress on campus, educational opportunities and ways to stay involved by volunteering on campus or in the community. I look forward to working with students this Fall through the Future Alumni Ambassadors. I’ve met a few of the ambassadors already; they are full of positive energy and are involved in so many organizations across campus.
Q: What have you enjoyed the most about your position so far?
I’m getting to learn new skills with the software we use on campus. I developed the Summer Alumni e-newsletter and I’ve never been on that side of things before. It was fun to gather information about alumni and plan events to help keep our alumni informed.
I’ve been working on fun and creative ideas to get alumni and friends hyped up for the USI/UE Men’s Basketball game on November 7 and for Homecoming in February. I also enjoyed the work in developing the USI art print, which was a thank-you gift for alumni who donated.
We also ran the “Snap Your USI Summer” alumni photo contest over the summer months, which had a good response as well.
Q: What’s a fun hobby you have?
I enjoy reading fiction and nonfiction, seeing all types of movies and trying new restaurants with friends. I’m also training for the YMCA Evansville Half Marathon, which will be in October.
Q: What’s an interesting tidbit of information about yourself you’d like to share with your colleagues?
I do have an identical twin sister, Jessica, who lives and works in Evansville. Sometimes it can be very confusing for people when they see her out and about, and they think it’s me or vice versa. She’s friendly too, so you can always say hi.
Q: What are two words you’d use to describe yourself?
Empathetic and persistent.
Q: What current song is stuck in your head?
I think it’s because I have a teenage daughter, but “Drop Dead” by Olivia Rodrigo.
Q: What are you looking forward to in the upcoming academic year?
I only experienced about a week with students on campus when I started and it was during finals week, so I am excited to work with students more with the Future Alumni Ambassadors and share information with students about Mentor Match.
Q: What is a favorite memory you have of USI?
I have so many! I took an Intro to Acting Class held in the building where Barker Brewhouse resides now. Elliot Wasserman taught the class, and I really bonded with my classmates because we were able to run scenes together. I remember performing a monologue and felt supported by everyone. We were all amateurs and that’s what made it really fun.
I also took Senior Seminar with Dr. Joseph Palladino and wrote a research paper about the benefits of humor, which is something he researched extensively. I remember feeling so proud of the work I put into the paper, and I used a variety of interesting sources.
To learn more about Alumni Engagement and Volunteer USI, including the Mentor Match program, reach out to Rhoades at ext. 1215 or email jlrhoades@usi.edu.