The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to start a national search for UCF’s next president.
The search will begin immediately with the goal of having a new president take office in summer 2020.
“I’m very interested in a diverse pool of candidates, and we will have a very strong effort to go out and find top talent and bring that talent to the university,” says Board of Trustees Chair Beverly Seay.
The presidential search will be led by a search committee that will be established by the Board of Trustees. The committee will include representatives from faculty, staff, students and the community. More details about the search committee, timeline and process will be forthcoming. In addition, an outside search firm that specializes in higher education will assist with the search.
“UCF continues to have an outstanding reputation in the academic community,” says Trustee Bill Yeargin, who recently spoke with more than a half dozen search firms about the timing and national landscape of presidential searches.
The university has been led by Interim President Thad Seymour Jr. since February.
Trustees praised Seymour’s service and the stability he has brought to UCF. Trustee Robert Garvy called Seymour an “extraordinary talent” who has built outstanding relationships with faculty, staff and students.
Seymour says he will continue in the interim role until a new president is hired, but he will not be a candidate in the search.
“This is an incredible institution,” Seymour says. “You have my commitment to work as hard as I can to put us in the right position for the next person to take over.”
