During its winter meeting on January 30, 1998, the Centre College Board of Trustees elected Dr. John A. Roush to become the College's 20th president. Born in Wisconsin, Dr. Roush was raised in Kettering, Ohio. He earned a bachelor's degree in English at Ohio University's Honors College, graduating summa cum laude. He completed master's and doctoral degrees at Miami University. Active in athletics, Dr. Roush was Ohio University Scholar Athlete of the Year and three times earned Academic All-American honors in football.

Dr. Roush began his career in higher education at Miami University as a graduate assistant football coach and remained there nine years, becoming executive assistant to the president. Dr. Roush joined the University of Richmond in 1982 as executive assistant to the president and by the late 1980's had emerged as an institutional leader in efforts to found the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. Dr. Roush was serving as the University of Richmond's vice president for planning, executive assistant to the president, and secretary to the Board of Trustees when elected to the presidency of Centre College. While at the University of Richmond, Dr. Roush worked closely with former Centre president Richard L. Morrill.

In addition to his work in higher education, Dr. Roush has served as a captain in the U.S. Army. He has published articles in professional journals and has done extensive public speaking throughout the region and the U.S. His scholarly interests include the study of leadership, the future, and sport in our culture.

Dr. Roush is active in the Presbyterian Church, the YMCA, and worked in a variety of community-based projects in the city of Richmond. He and his wife are the parents of two sons, Luke and Mark. Susie Roush has a bachelor's degree from Ohio University and a master's degree from Miami University. While at Richmond, she was active in the Henrico County public schools, the YMCA, Freeman High School, and a variety of projects in central Virginia.

This very small collection consists of material deposited in the Archives. Most material relating to President Roush is still in the President's Office. Material relating to Roush's installation is located in the library's storage room.