UF isn’t the only Florida university facing presidential changes.
Florida State University and the University of Miami will be transitioning into new leadership as both search for their university’s next president.
UM President Donna Shalala announced Monday that she will retire in 2015. She has been acting as president for 14 years.
Last spring, former FSU President Eric Barron left the university to become Penn State’s 18th president. Garnett Stokes has been serving as FSU’s interim president since April 2.
FSU’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee conducted interviews with 11 applicants Monday and Tuesday.
With UF President Bernie Machen’s December retirement approaching, eight applicants were announced Friday after the UF Board of Trustees retreat.
Brittany Davis, the State University System of Florida Board of Governors spokeswoman, wrote in an email that an adjustment period is inevitable.
“Our boards of trustees are well-positioned to work with the senior administration to ensure that our universities continue to serve our students and communities during a presidential transition,” she said.
Students are also looking to their search committees to find a president fit for their university.
“We’re all really sad that Dr. Shalala is leaving us,” said Elizabeth Baltazar, a 19-year-old UM health science and microbiology and immunology sophomore. “I was really looking forward to shaking her hand at graduation, and she’s made UM a much better school than it was when she first came here.”
A university president is responsible for steering the short- and long-term visions of their respective school.
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said the timing of the presidential searches is “coincidental.”
[A version of this story ran on page 5 on 9/10/2014 under the headline "Presidents leave FL colleges"]
