Meet Your Dean: Susan Brocksmith

When the Classroom Moves Beyond Four Walls

If you step into the College of Business and Public Service at Vincennes University, prepare to leave traditional lecture halls behind. Under the leadership of Dean Susan Brocksmith, education is an immersive adventure where you don't just read about your future career; you live it.

For over 30 years, Susan has been proving that the best way to master a profession is to get your hands dirty. Long before she became Dean, Susan didn't let the lack of an on-campus school farm stop her from giving her agricultural students a competitive edge. Instead, she opened up her own 6th-generation family farm, located just minutes from campus, as a living, breathing laboratory.

That real-world first philosophy defines her leadership today. Whether her students are running live-fire drills, drafting legal briefs, managing professional kitchens, or defending networks against simulated cyberattacks, Susan ensures that every square inch of her college serves as a launchpad for the real world.

A Lifelong Pioneer in Leadership

Susan’s roots run deep in Indiana’s landscape. Raised on a family livestock and crop farm, she earned her Bachelor's degree from Purdue University and her MBA from Ball State University. Alongside her husband, Mike, Susan has spent decades pioneering regenerative farming practices on their land, earning her the prestigious title of 2026 Indiana Master Farmer and the presidency of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council.

But Susan’s true passion is building pathways for students from all backgrounds. Over her distinguished career, she has engineered cutting-edge programs designed to match exactly what modern employers are looking for:

• Pioneering Modern Business: From traditional Business Administration to dynamic Management, she shapes curricula that turn students into boardroom-ready professionals.
• Architect of Four-Year Pathways: Seeing a need for advanced leadership in the industry, Susan single-handedly developed and launched VU’s four-year Bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness.
• Champion of Tomorrow's Leaders: She founded VU's Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter and remains a fierce mentor for women breaking into business, agriculture, and public safety sectors.

Leading a Powerhouse of Diverse Careers

As Dean, Susan oversees an expansive and exciting ecosystem of high-demand programs. She has built a college where diverse talents find a common home:

• The Protectors & Responders: She champions the next generation of public servants through premier programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Fire Science & Safety, Homeland Security and Conservation Law Enforcement. 
• The Tech Trailblazers: She oversees a massive Information Technology ecosystem featuring numerous degrees and certificates. Here, students work in cutting-edge labs mastering cybersecurity, software development, and network infrastructure.
• The Legal & Creative Visionaries: From students learning courtroom strategy alongside licensed attorneys in Legal Studies, to future salon owners mastering their trade in Cosmetology, to culinary artists managing industrial kitchens in Hospitality Management, Susan’s focus remains singular: translating classroom success into rapid employment.

A Message to Prospective Students

"In the modern workforce, things change fast. You cannot learn how to adapt, protect, or lead just by reading a textbook. At VU, we believe in immersive education. We want you to step out of the classroom and into the field, the boardroom, the kitchen, or the cyber lab. My promise to you is that you will never just be a number here. We are going to meet you exactly where you are, surround you with faculty who genuinely care, and give you the practical, hard-hitting skills you need to build a legacy of your own. Your future is waiting; let's go build it together."

— Dean Susan Brocksmith