Announcements and Updates
Announcement of Presidential Search Committee
Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini
I am pleased today to appoint and introduce the members of the University of Florida Presidential Search Advisory Committee. The members are a distinguished group representing the UF Board of Trustees, student body, faculty, administration, alumni and other stakeholders and supporters of the University of Florida. 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 14th president. 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.
I am also pleased to announce that UF Board of Trustees member Rahul Patel will serve as chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. Rahul received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida (BA ’94, JD ’97), is serving his second term on our Board of Trustees and currently serves as our Board’s Vice Chair and Chair of the Committee on Academic, Faculty & Student Success, Public Relations & Strategic Communications. Joining Rahul on the Committee are the following 14 members:
- Mr. Charles Allison, UF Alumnus and IFAS Representative
- Mr. Douglas Band, UF Alumnus
- Mr. John Brinkman, UF Student Representative, UF Student Body President
- Mr. Timothy Cerio, UF Alumnus
- Dr. Shakira Henderson, Dean, College of Nursing
- Mr. Charles Lydecker, Board of Governors Representative
- Dr. Sarah Lynne, UF Faculty Representative, Faculty Senate Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences
- Dr. Duane Mitchell, UF Faculty Representative, Phyllis Kottler Friedman Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and Director of the UF Clinical Translational Science Institute
- Dr. Michael Okun, UF Faculty Representative, Professor, Department of Neurology and Director, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases
- Ms. Marsha Powers, UF Trustee
- Mr. Jon Pritchett, Chair, UF Foundation Executive Board
- Mr. Robert Stilley, UF Alumnus
- Ms. Karen Unger, UF Alumnus
- Mr. Patrick Zalupski, UF Trustee
The Search Committee is advisory and will ultimately recommend a small number of highly qualified candidates to the UF Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will interview the finalists and select the next president of the University of Florida, with the Board of Governors of the State University System ratifying. The Committee will be assisted by an executive search firm selected by the Board of Trustees. The charge to the Committee and brief biographies of Committee members will be posted on a search website. A link to this site will be shared once it is available.
The Committee begins its work in a momentous and transformative time for the University of Florida, which, in 2022, was first ranked as a Top 5 public university in the country. The next president will have an opportunity to lead Florida’s flagship university in its quest to be firmly and consistently recognized among the most prominent and influential public and private universities in the country. 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.
On December 13, 2024, the UF Board of Trustees has selected SP&A Executive Search as the advisor for the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.
The kickoff and organizational meeting will take place Wednesday, December 18 from 4 - 5:30 p.m. View meeting agenda.
The kickoff and organizational meeting will take place Wednesday, December 18 from 4 - 5:30 p.m. View meeting agenda.
Listening Sessions and Stakeholder Survey
On October 29, 2024, the University of Florida Board of Trustees announced the launch of the search for UF’s next president and established a Presidential Search Advisory Committee to guide the process of identifying and recruiting outstanding candidates who align with UF’s vision and values.
The committee recognizes that the foundation of this search lies in understanding the hopes, aspirations, and priorities of our community. To achieve this, we are undertaking two important steps to engage and involve all stakeholders:
1. Listening Sessions:
The Search Advisory Committee will host a series of listening sessions designed to gather input and ideas from the entire UF family. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and community members are all encouraged to share their voices. These sessions are a unique opportunity to help shape the future of our university by contributing to the development of the qualifications and criteria for our next leader. For details on session dates, times, and audiences, please visit the Presidential Search Website.
2. Online Stakeholder Survey:
For those unable to attend a session or who wish to share additional thoughts, we’ve launched an online stakeholder survey. This tool provides another avenue to express your insights and priorities, ensuring every voice is heard. The survey is open now through January 30, 2025, and can be accessed here.
Your input is vital to this process. Together, we will lay the groundwork for UF’s continued rise as one of the premier universities in the country. We look forward to collaborating with you as we embark on this exciting journey for our university.
Rahul Patel
Chair, UF Presidential Search Advisory Committee
As a reminder, the University of Florida Presidential Search Advisory Committee is hosting a series of listening sessions for all members of the UF community. A full schedule of listening sessions can be found here. For more information, please see below the email sent Dec. 20, 2024, by Search Advisory Committee Chair and UF Trustee Rahul Patel. Additional information can be found at the Presidential Search Website.
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On October 29, 2024, the University of Florida Board of Trustees announced the launch of the search for UF’s next president and established a Presidential Search Advisory Committee to guide the process of identifying and recruiting outstanding candidates who align with UF’s vision and values.
The committee recognizes that the foundation of this search lies in understanding the hopes, aspirations, and priorities of our community. To achieve this, we are undertaking two important steps to engage and involve all stakeholders:
1. Listening Sessions:
The Search Advisory Committee will host a series of listening sessions designed to gather input and ideas from the entire UF family. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and community members are all encouraged to share their voices. These sessions are a unique opportunity to help shape the future of our university by contributing to the development of the qualifications and criteria for our next leader. For details on session dates, times, and audiences, please visit the Presidential Search Website.
2. Online Stakeholder Survey:
For those unable to attend a session or who wish to share additional thoughts, we’ve launched an online stakeholder survey. This tool provides another avenue to express your insights and priorities, ensuring every voice is heard. The survey is open now through January 30, 2025, and can be accessed here.
Your input is vital to this process. Together, we will lay the groundwork for UF’s continued rise as one of the premier universities in the country. We look forward to collaborating with you as we embark on this exciting journey for our university.
Rahul Patel
Chair, UF Presidential Search Advisory Committee
The marketing and communications meeting will take place Monday, January 27 at 10 a.m. View meeting agenda.
The presidential search working group will meet Wednesday, January 29 to discuss qualifications and criteria. View meeting agenda.
The presidential search advisory committee will meet Monday, February 3. View meeting agenda.
The presidential search working group will meet Friday, February 21 to discuss compensation. View meeting agenda.
The presidential search advisory committee will meet Monday, February 24. View meeting agenda.
The presidential search advisory committee will meet Wednesday, March 19. View meeting agenda.
As announced here, the UF Presidential Search Advisory Committee unanimously recommended Dr. Santa J. Ono as the sole finalist for consideration by the Board of Trustees to serve as the 14th president of the University of Florida. The University will be hosting forums for faculty, students and administrators/staff to welcome and get to know Dr. Ono. The dates, times and location of these forums are as follows:
Faculty Forum
Date: Tuesday May 6, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Emerson Hall President’s Ball Room (2nd floor)
Hosts:
Rahul Patel, UF Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Search Committee Chair
Sarah Lynne, Faculty Senate Chair, Search Committee Member
Student Forum
Date: Tuesday May 6, 2025
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Location: Emerson Hall President’s Ball Room (2nd floor)
Hosts:
Rahul Patel, UF Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Search Committee Chair
John Brinkman, Past UF Student Body President, Seach Committee Member
Administrator/Staff Forum
Date: Tuesday May 6, 2025
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Emerson Hall President’s Ball Room (2nd floor)
Hosts:
Rahul Patel, UF Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Search Committee Chair
Shakira Henderson, UF College of Nursing Dean, Search Committee Member
To facilitate a constructive conversation at these forums, we encourage members of these groups to submit questions for Dr. Ono to be consolidated and utilized during the forum. Questions can be submitted here.