Following a national search, the Board of Trustees for the Nebraska State Colleges and Chancellor Paul Turman have announced the appointment of Dr. Robert C. Mock, Jr., Ed.D., as the 35th President of Peru State College.
“As Chair of the Board and Chair of the search committee, I am pleased to announce Dr. Mock as the next president of Peru State College,” said Bob Engles, Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges. “Dr. Mock has a true passion for the institution, for our mission of accessibility and affordability, and most importantly, for the success of Peru State students.”
The presidential search process incorporated feedback and participation from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members. Their engagement helped identify a leader who understands both the opportunities and challenges ahead, and who will guide Peru State College with vision and commitment.
“First, I would like to thank the search and search advisory committees for their excellent work in advancing an outstanding pool of candidates,” said Chancellor Paul Turman of the Nebraska State College System (NSCS). “In making the final selection, the Board of Trustees drew heavily from the feedback we received from the campus and community, with the goal of selecting someone who can leverage that support to expand Peru State’s momentum as a student-centered and regionally engaged institution.”
Chancellor Turmant conitued, “Dr. Mock brings a track record of leadership in student success, enrollment, and strategic planning, and he has consistently demonstrated an ability to connect authentically with students, faculty, and staff. These qualities will be invaluable as Peru State builds on its mission of affordability and accessibility while continuing to serve as a vital resource for the region.”
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected as the next president of Peru State College. Peru State College has a long history of academic excellence, innovation, and service, and I am inspired by its traditions, energized by its aspirations, and eager to work alongside this extraordinary community to build on its many strengths. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State College System, the search committee, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members who took part in this process and who have entrusted me with the responsibility of leading this remarkable institution,” said Dr. Robert C. Mock, Jr., the 35th President of Peru State College.
Dr. Mock has served the University of Maryland Eastern Shore since 2018 in multiple leadership roles, including Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Chief of Staff, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Experience, and Interim Athletic Director. Previously, he served as President of Johnson & Wales University Charlotte Campus, Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Kentucky, and Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas–Fayetteville. He also held leadership roles at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, focusing on recruitment, retention, and academic administration. He also served in the U.S. Army & the National Guard, receiving an honorable discharge from 2002 to 2010, following the 9/11 attacks. His application materials are available here.
Dr. Mock earned a B.S. in Engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, an M.A. in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
On Sept. 19, 2025, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to authorize the Chancellor to negotiate a contract with Dr. Mock, who will succeed President Michael Evans, who retired in November 2024. Dr. Mock will officially begin his role as President on Jan. 1, 2026.
