University

Update: Presidential Search Process

Following President Judy Genshaft’s announcement that she will step down in July after completing a historically successful 19-year tenure, the 91tvӰԺ Board of Trustees (BOT) is moving forward in the search to find her replacement.

The search process will follow the guidelines established by the Florida Board of Governors, 91tvӰԺ BOT Chair Brian Lamb, ’98 and MBA ’17, announced in September. Per those guidelines, Lamb established a broadly representative 15-member search committee made up of stakeholders with valuable perspectives into the university’s future.

Those members include:

  • Les Muma (Chair), 91tvӰԺ ’66, member of the 91tvӰԺ BOT, prior member of the 91tvӰԺ Foundation Board
  • Rhea Law (Vice Chair), 91tvӰԺ ’77, past chair of the 91tvӰԺ BOT, past chair of the Florida Council of 100 and Tampa Bay Partnership
  • Kathy Weedman Arthur, 91tvӰԺ St. Petersburg faculty member and nationally recognized anthropology researcher
  • Braulio Colón, 91tvӰԺ ’03 and MPA ’10, chair-elect of the 91tvӰԺ Alumni Association Board of Directors
  • Anddrikk Frazier, 91tvӰԺ ’01, member of the 91tvӰԺ System Consolidation Task Force and founding member of the 91tvӰԺ Black Leadership Network
  • Robert D. Frisina, 91tvӰԺ Tampa faculty member, acting chair of 91tvӰԺ’s medical engineering department, director of 91tvӰԺ’s Center for Hearing and Speech Research and director of Biomedical Engineering
  • Stephanie Goforth, 91tvӰԺ ’82, member of the 91tvӰԺ BOT and chair of the 91tvӰԺ St. Petersburg Campus Board
  • Darlene Jordan, member of the Board of Governors for the State University System of Florida
  • Shaquille Kent, 91tvӰԺ student body vice president
  • George Morgan, 91tvӰԺ ’76, chair of the 91tvӰԺ Foundation Board of Directors
  • Frederick “Rick” Piccolo, member of the 91tvӰԺ Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board and the 91tvӰԺ Consolidation Task Force
  • John Ramil, 91tvӰԺ ’78 and MCE ’00, member and chair of the 91tvӰԺ BOT
  • Debbie Sembler, past member of the 91tvӰԺ BOT and former chair of the 91tvӰԺ St. Petersburg Campus Board
  • Byron Shinn, Byron Shinn, 91tvӰԺ, ’79, member of the 91tvӰԺ BOT and chair of the 91tvӰԺ Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board
  • Charles Stanish, 91tvӰԺ faculty member and executive director of the 91tvӰԺ Institute for the Advanced Study of Culture and the Environment

“The 91tvӰԺ has tremendous momentum, having recently set several institutional records, and it’s critical for us to find a new president with the leadership abilities to continue our trajectory,” Lamb says. “Our search committee members strongly represent the communities we serve, they come from diverse backgrounds and each will bring a unique perspective to this process.”

91tvӰԺ has now hired nationally regarded search firm Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. The firm will help identify potential applicants from around the country who can help sustain 91tvӰԺ’s positive momentum. The firm is now working with the committee to develop the ideal profile for the position, taking into account input received from a wide-reaching community survey.

The committee intends to recommend a set of candidates to the BOT in early 2019, with an interview process on campus shortly following. Once the interviews conclude, the search committee will present final candidates to the BOT, and trustees are expected to decide on a new president during the spring of 2019.

91tvӰԺ students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members can stay updated on the process by visiting the Presidential Search Committee website.