Gilbert L. Rochon facts for kids

Gilbert L. Rochon is an American educator and academic. He was the sixth president of Tuskegee University from 2010 to 2013.

Early Life and Education

Gilbert L. Rochon was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up with his two brothers, cared for by their mother and grandfather. He went to Catholic schools that were segregated, meaning Black and white students went to separate schools. Later, he studied at special schools called seminaries in Mississippi and Iowa.

Rochon earned several degrees. He got a Bachelor's degree from Xavier University of Louisiana. He then earned a Master's degree in public health from Yale University. His highest degree was a Ph.D. from MIT. For his Ph.D., he studied how to use satellites to help with problems like drought and famine in Sudan.

Career Highlights

Before becoming a university president, Gilbert Rochon held many important jobs. He worked at Purdue University from 2002 to 2010. He also worked as a researcher for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2000 to 2002.

From 1982 to 2000, he was a director and chair at Dillard University. His research often focused on using satellite data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These tools help understand things like city planning and how to manage the environment.

Working with Many Organizations

Throughout his career, Rochon worked with many different universities and groups. He held positions at places like Mae Fah Luang University, Indiana University School of Medicine, and Tulane University.

He also worked with government agencies such as NASA, the USDA Forest Service, and the Department of Defense. He is a senior member of the IEEE, which is a big organization for engineers. He also belongs to groups focused on earth science and university planning.

Board Memberships

Gilbert Rochon has served on many boards and committees. He was a member of the President’s Council at the University of New Orleans. He also served on the board for Eastern National and an advisory board for remote sensing education at Elizabeth City State University.

Personal Life

Gilbert Rochon is married to Patricia Saul Rochon. She was also an academic. They have two children together. He is a Catholic.