UF names presidential search committee

The University of Florida announced a 15-person presidential search committee on Tuesday. 

“With these distinguished and dedicated committee members in place, we can now begin our presidential search with the focus needed to ensure we identify the best leader to take the University of Florida into the future,” Morteza “Mori” Hosseini, chair of UF’s board of trustees, wrote in a message sent to UF “family and friends.” 

UF President Kent Fuchs announced in January that he would step down at the end of 2022 after eight years on the job. He has overseen UF’s rise to elite status as a top 5 public university in the country but also endured several recent controversies

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Hosseini said UF board member Rahul Patel will chair the 15-member presidential search committee. The other 14 members include: 

  • Mr. Doug Band, UF Foundation National Board
  • Dr. David Bloom, UF Faculty Representative, Faculty Senate Chair and Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
  • Mr. David Duda, UF Alumnus
  • Mr. Manny Fernandez, UF Alumnus
  • Ms. Lauren Lemasters, UF Student and Student Body President-Elect
  • Mr. Charles Lydecker, Florida Board of Governors
  • Dr. Lisa Lundy, UF Faculty Representative, Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication
  • Dr. Duane Mitchell, UF Faculty Representative, Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
  • Ms. Marsha Powers, UF Trustee
  • Mr. Fred Ridley, UF Trustee
  • Ms. Laura Rosenbury, Dean, UF Levin College of Law
  • Mr. Bob Stilley, UF Alumnus
  • Ms. Lynda Tealer, Executive Associate Athletics Director, University Athletics Association
  • Ms. Anita Zucker, UF Trustee
UF board chair Mori Hosseini

“Each has agreed to make the significant commitment of time and dedication needed to identify highly qualified candidates for the critical position of UF’s 13th president,” Hosseini said. “Those on the Committee possess a diverse array of expertise, professional interests and accomplishments, as well as one crucial common trait: a deep devotion to UF’s future.”

Last week UF announced the board had unanimously voted to select the firm SP&A Executive Search to lead the nationwide search for its next president. According to a university press release, SP&A recently led successful presidential searches for both the University of Central Florida and Florida State University.

Hosseini said the committee will work with SP&A to present a small group of qualified candidates to the board, which will interview the candidates and make the decision. 

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