A Gator will likely soon help lead the State University System.
Marshall Criser III, the son of the former UF president Criser Hall is named after, was chosen Tuesday as a Board of Governors search committee’s finalist for chancellor. Criser, president of AT&T Florida, has served on UF’s Board of Trustees since 2010.
The chancellor is the chief executive and administrative officer of the Board of Governors, according to its website.
Criser’s experience and ideas make him “the perfect fit to be our chancellor,” committee vice chair Tom Kuntz said in a news release.
In his interview, Criser mentioned increasing communication between the board and university trustees.
Criser stressed he’d make decisions by looking at what’s best for Florida — not favor UF, despite his history with the university.
“The types of things that I wake up in the morning and go to bed at night thinking through — I shouldn’t say this in a public meeting — but a lot of times, they’re focused on where the opportunity is in higher education in the state,” he said.
The board will consider Criser’s appointment at its meeting next week.
A version of this story ran on page 3 on 11/13/2013 under the headline "University system may get Gator chancellor"
