Dear members of the University of Florida community

UF PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH

Dear members of the University of Florida community,

Recently, the UF Board of Trustees initiated the search for the university’s next President and established a Presidential Search Advisory Committee to guide the identification and recruitment of highly qualified candidates. Their efforts will be supported by Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner with the firm SP&A Executive Search. Ultimately, the Committee will be responsible for advancing the names of two or more finalists for the Board of Trustees’ review and consideration.

To assist with recruitment process, the Search Advisory Committee would like to develop an in-depth understanding of the university’s needs and expectations. In the coming weeks, members of the Search Advisory Committee and the search consultant will host a series of open forums and listening sessions with key university stakeholders to solicit input and guidance. This will be an opportunity for various UF community constituents to share their thoughts and comments on the qualities and characteristics sought in the new President. The information gathered in these sessions will inform the development of the position profile and assist the Search Advisory Committee in finalizing the criteria by which candidates will be evaluated.

The Search Advisory Committee will explore the following topics with each group:

1. Based on your experience with UF, what do you see as the short-term and long-term challenges and opportunities facing the new President?
2. Given the opportunities and challenges you have described, what professional experiences and qualifications should the successful candidate possess?
3. What personal qualities should the new President have in order to be a strong cultural “fit” with the UF community?
4. What are the positive attributes and most attractive features of UF and the surrounding community and how might those be used to attract the best candidates?

As a valued member of the UF community, we invite you to participate in these important sessions. Each constituent group will be scheduled to meet with the Search Advisory Committee and consultant.The time scheduled for your session Monday, May 16, 2022 at 9:00am via https://ufl.zoom.us/j/94368907293?pwd=L0NDSk1MVy9jTlRYYmNrQUpzUWVQZz09 Zoom link.

To take full advantage of the time you will have with the Search Advisory Committee, please prepare your thoughts and comments prior to your scheduled meeting. If you are unable to attend your designated session but would like to share your thoughts, please visit the following link to submit your comments electronically: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q9NGYVK

Thank you for your participation. We look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions, please contact presidentsearch@ufl.edu.

Sincerely,

Rahul Patel

Presidential Search Committee Chair