UF launches search for new College of Business dean

UF Warrington College of Business Administration will have a new dean in 2017.

John Kraft will return to being a faculty member after serving as dean for more than 25 years. Kraft, who has been teaching at UF since 1970, said he was ready to step down.

“I came to work one day and thought that was a good time to move on to something else,” Kraft said.

He said he plans to return as a professor, teaching the same courses he currently does: strategy, international business and entrepreneurship.

A search committee, composed of deans from other colleges and other faculty members, has paired up with national recruiting firm — called Isaacson, Miller, Inc. — to find Kraft’s successor.

The dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, David Richardson, is chairing the search committee.

“John Kraft has been an outstanding leader for the Warrington College of Business, and replacing John is going to be challenging,” Richardson said.

The committee created a website for potential candidates, which outlines qualifications for the position, including a doctoral degree in a relevant field and experience as a business dean.

Richardson said he hopes to have a new dean by next Summer or Fall at the latest.

Once a new dean is found, he or she will take over for Kraft.

Kraft said he hopes the next dean will find what they want to focus on.

“I think they can figure it out themselves,” he said.