Vincent D. Rougeau (born June 17, 1963) is an American legal scholar serving as the 33rd President of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is the college's first lay and first Black president.^[1][2] Before assuming the position, Rougeau served as the dean of Boston College Law School.

Early life and education

Rougeau was born on June 17, 1963, in Miami Beach, Florida, to Catholic parents. His father, Weldon Rougeau, was actively involved in the American Civil Rights Movement while his mother worked at a hospital.^[3][4]

Rougeau received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in 1985 and his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1988.^[5]

Career

In 1997, Rougeau joined the faculty of Notre Dame Law School as a visiting associate professor. He later became a tenured professor and served as the university's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 1999 to 2002.^[6]

In 2011, Rougeau was appointed Dean of Boston College Law School. He served in that capacity until July 2021, when he assumed the role of President at the College of the Holy Cross. Upon his appointment, Rougeau identified increasing diversity and the college's relationship with the city of Worcester as among his strategic priorities.^[7]

In January 2021, Rougeau was inducted as president of the Association of American Law Schools.^[8]

Publications

• Christians in the American Empire: Faith and Citizenship in the New World Order. Oxford University Press. 2008. ISBN 9780195188097.^[9]