Presidential Search
The President of the University of Florida is one of the most influential and impactful positions in all of public higher education and in the State of Florida. In 2021, for the first time, the University of Florida was ranked a Top 5 public university in the country by US News & World Report. The opportunity to serve as the next President of the University of Florida represents 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.
The University of Florida
The University of Florida is a truly dynamic institution — widely considered to be among the world’s most comprehensive universities. It is one of only six institutions in the country with colleges of law, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary medicine on one central campus and one of only 17 in the nation to boast land-, sea-, and space-grant status.
Thanks to its extraordinary depth and breadth, Florida’s flagship university is uniquely positioned to lead interdisciplinary collaborations and boundary-breaking research efforts that are shaping a better future for the state, the nation, and the world. Guided by a shared passion for the greater good, the Gator Nation is a diverse and expansive community with a proven trajectory of excellence across academics, research, outreach, health, athletics, and more. The following are certain important characteristics about UF:
Top Ranked University – UF has great momentum as a university. In 2017, pursuant to the US News & World Report, UF was the 14th ranked public university in the country. Today, UF is ranked 7th among the nation’s top public research universities by U.S. News & World Report.
Located in the State of Florida – Florida is now the third most populous and one of the fastest growing states in the country. With new interest in its urban centers from corporate leaders across a wide range of industries, Florida is a national leader well positioned to enter a new era of influence.
Association of American Universities –The State’s flagship university, UF belongs to the prestigious Association of American Universities and is one of only six in the country with colleges of law, medicine, agriculture, and veterinary medicine on one central campus.
Artificial Intelligence Initiative – Partnership with NVIDIA, one of the leading computing and artificial intelligence companies in the world, and UF’s Artificial Intelligence initiative represents a signature moment in UF’s history, uniquely positioning UF to become the higher education leader in artificial intelligence. UF’s AI supercomputer, HiPerGator, is the fastest in higher education and ensures that Gators work on the cutting edge of innovation.
World-Class Health System – UF Health is one of the top academic health care systems and hospitals in the southeast, consistently ranked among the top health systems in Florida. UF Health is also one of the most comprehensive academic health programs in the country, which includes six academic health colleges.
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) – UF has one of the nation’s most comprehensive agriculture and natural resources programs with a presence in each of Florida’s 67 counties. IFAS is a significant thought leader and driver of the Florida’s $130 billion agriculture community, which is one of the significant components of Florida’s economy and a key component of the nation’s food supply.
UF Health Scripps – UF Health Scripps is one of the world’s premier biomedical research enterprises and regarded as one of the most influential institutions in the world for its impact on innovation and addressing the world’s most pressing health concerns.
Athletics – A world class athletics program, UF is the only program in NCAA Division I athletics to finish within the Top 10 in the standings in each of the last 40 all-sports standings. The Gators are one of only two programs to capture a national championship in each of the previous 15 complete seasons and have won 27 national titles during that time.
Research – UF currently has $1.27 billion in research expenditures.
Online Initiative – UF ranks #2 in the country for online learning.
Governor and State Legislative Support – Unwavering support from the Governor and Legislature of the State of Florida, which has endorsed UF’s drive to become one of the nation’s very best public research universities, including supporting those efforts with hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding.
Fundraising – UF raised approximately $500 million in fiscal year 2024. The university’s fundraising momentum continues to grow following the conclusion of the $4.65 billion Go Greater campaign in December 2022, which was one of the most successful in the history of public higher education. Over the last six years, annual giving to UF has met or exceeded $500 million, optimally positioning the university and its 14th president for the next capital campaign.
Hamilton Center – Building on the strong backing from the state of Florida, the Hamilton Center has attracted the attention and support of donors around the country. In just two years, with a mission to promote scholarship and shape leaders for a free society, the Hamilton Center has hired more than 47 faculty and made UF one of the very top universities in the nation for fields including diplomatic and military history, the American founding, political theory, and early Modern Europe.
Jacksonville Graduate Campus – UF is moving forward with plans to build a graduate campus in Jacksonville. Master’s degree programs, slated to begin in fall 2026, include engineering management, computer science, biomedical and health sciences, the study of law, and architecture.
Space – As part of its goal of advancing America’s global leadership, UF recently established the Astraeus Space Institute, which gathers a constellation of academic stars at UF for collaborative research. The institute is enhancing existing relationships with NASA, the Kennedy Space Center, Space Florida, the Space Life Sciences Laboratory, and the International Space Station National Laboratory. In August, UF scientist Rob Ferl became the first NASA-funded university researcher to conduct his own experiments in space during a sub-orbital mission on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
Position Summary
The university president is the chief executive officer of the University of Florida. Subject to appropriate accountability to and governance of the University of Florida Board of Trustees (the “Board”), the president is responsible for all operations of the university: overall leadership and management of the institution; its academic, research, healthcare, and land-grant enterprise; fundraising; intercollegiate athletics; the development of strategic plans; fiscal and budgetary plans; and the allocation of resources. The president also has oversight responsibilities for the university’s private affiliated organizations including a foundation, research foundation, agricultural research entities, investment management company, development corporation, hospitals and health care entities, alumni association, and athletic association, among others. In this role, the president will advance the university’s academic, research, and outreach efforts to maintain and enhance the strength of UF’s programs and offerings and ensure that student services and support are provided to create appropriate learning environments.
To view the Presidential Prospectus and a full listing of the qualities and characteristics sought in UF’s next President, please visit https://presidentsearch.ufl.edu/.
Application and Nomination Process
The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Applications should include a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest describing relevant experience and interest in the position. Submission of materials via email is strongly encouraged. Nomination letters should include the name and contact information of the nominee.
In accordance with the State of Florida’s open records laws, documents and information related to applicants will be held in confidence with only the finalists’ identities and materials made public. Application materials should be submitted to:
Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner
Will Gates, Partner
Sal Venegas Jr., Partner
SP&A Executive Search
6512 Painter Avenue
Whittier, CA 90601
Email: apsearch@spaexec.com
Refer to code “UF-President” in subject line
THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The University is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.