Latest news with #RheaLaw
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tampa state senator doesn't rule out exploring USF president's job
The University of South Florida's search for its next president has barely started, but murmurs of who might succeed Rhea Law have already circulated. On the front page of last Friday's La Gaceta, Tampa Bay's trilingual newspaper, publisher Patrick Mantiega's 'As We Heard It' column listed one possibility: State Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa. Asked about the rumor on Tuesday, Collins denied that he was formally in the running. 'I haven't heard anything about that,' he told a Tampa Bay Times reporter. 'I've seen it, but I'm here focused on what we're doing.' But asked further if he would be interested, he didn't rule it out. 'I think anytime something's there, you have to look at it, but that's true in anything,' he said. USF has yet to hold its first presidential search committee meeting, and the process will include listening sessions with stakeholders and creating a position profile to advertise the opening. Collins, a former Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, was elected to the state senate in 2022. Bills he's sponsored include one to allow eligible owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit, one requiring communist history education in schools and one banning non-Governor approved flags at government buildings, which some have interpreted to include Pride flags at universities. This year he's also sponsored several bills, including one to create a public transparency about the activities of 'agents of adversarial nations and foreign terrorist organizations' in the state. That bill states that any state university or college student, faculty or employee that violates defined rules, including participating in political activities intended to influence policy toward these organizations or nations, will be permanently expelled or dismissed from their roles. Non-U.S. citizens would be turned over to the U.S. Department of Justice for removal. The university's first search committee meeting is Thursday. This is a developing story and may be updated. Divya Kumar covers higher education for the Tampa Bay Times in partnership with Open Campus.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
USF President Law to Step Down
University of South Florida President Rhea Law announced Monday she will step down from her post, as major changes continue in the leadership of Florida public universities. Law, an attorney who had longstanding ties to USF, became interim president in 2021 before being named president in March 2022. Monday's announcement said she will leave the presidency after USF conducts a search for a successor. 'During my tenure we established bold goals — and thanks to our talented, dedicated team of faculty, staff, administrators and students — we exceeded them, sometimes soaring beyond what many thought was possible,' Law said in a message to the university community. 'After over 40 years as an employee, student, board member and chair, donor, volunteer and now president, I am filled with gratitude and pride for all we have achieved. Serving this community as USF's eighth president has been the honor of my lifetime, and I look forward to cheering on the continued success of this incredible university.' Read: 'We exist': hundreds protest Trump administration in downtown Orlando on Presidents Day The announcement came on the same day that former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez began serving as interim president of Florida International University and a week after former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner was named president of Florida Atlantic University. Meanwhile, the University of Florida and Florida A&M University are operating with interim presidents, and Florida Polytechnic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida State University, the University of North Florida and New College of Florida have presidents who were appointed since 2021. Monday's announcement did not provide detailed reasons for Law's decision to step down, but it listed a series of accomplishments during her tenure, including achieving a longstanding goal of joining the Association of American Universities and helping guide an effort to build an on-campus football stadium. 'Rhea Law has truly been the right leader at the right time for the University of South Florida,' USF Board of Trustees Chairman Will Weatherford, a former state House speaker, said in a prepared statement. 'I am forever grateful that she was willing to accept this role, first on an interim basis, and then permanently after members of our community urged her to apply and supported her for the position. By every measure Rhea has been exceptional in leading our university to unprecedented levels of success. For more than four decades she has stayed connected to USF and we would not be where we are today without her.' Read: New charges filed against man accused of killing pedestrian during car chase The Florida International University Board of Trustees on Feb. 7 chose Nunez to become interim president, replacing Kenneth Jessell, who had served as the Miami university's president since 2022. Nunez's first day on the job was Monday, with her resignation as lieutenant governor effective Sunday. 'On my first day as interim president of Florida International University, I write to assure you that my commitment begins and ends with our students, their success, and the overall success of FIU,' Nunez said in a message to the FIU community that was posted online. 'Together, we will further cement FIU's position as a leader in higher education in our state and throughout the nation.' The state university system's Board of Governors is slated Thursday to sign off on Nunez's appointment as interim president and her contract. She would make an annual base salary of $850,000 and could receive a bonus up to 15 percent of the base salary amount, or $127,500, according to a copy of the proposed contract posted on the university system's website. Read: Local Pastor and 'Prophet' accused of not paying worker for months Under state rules, FIU will have to conduct a search for a permanent president. While the FIU board on Feb. 7 did not specifically discuss Nunez serving as permanent president, trustee Dean Colson indicated the 'probable results of the search are already known.' The system's Board of Governors on Thursday also will consider Hasner's appointment as president of Florida Atlantic University. Hasner would make an annual base salary of $875,000, with the possibility of a $150,000 bonus, according to a copy of the contract on the university system website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
USF joins presidential hunt — incumbent Rhea Law to step down
University of South Florida. Credit: USF Facebook page The University of South Florida will soon launch a search to replace President Rhea Law, the school announced Monday. Law was named the school's president in March 2022 after serving as interim president for seven months. She will step down after the university's trustees find a successor in a national search, expected to launch in the coming days, the school announced in a news release Monday. An attorney by trade, Law previously served as chair of the university's board of trustees. 'When I was first asked to serve as the University of South Florida's interim president in 2021, I thought it would only be for a few months to provide stability during a time of transition,' Law said in opening her letter to the university community. 'I pledged to create a smooth glidepath for a new president to be well positioned for success. What I never could have imagined is where we would be three-and-a-half years later and all that we would accomplish. Together.' The university applauded Law's involvement in launching the Office of University Community Partnerships and opening a new honors college building, a new student wellness center, and other housing and athletic projects during her time in office. 'One of the hallmarks of great leadership is knowing when it is time to create space for new ideas and fresh perspectives to build on the momentum we have created,' Law said. 'I am confident in the path ahead and inspired by the potential of what is to come.' USF will join the University of Florida, Florida A&M University, and Florida International University as state universities searching or recently concluding searches for a president. Florida Atlantic University named former GOP lawmaker Adam Hasner its president last week after two years without a permanent president. Florida International University started under new leadership Monday — former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez stepped down from that job to start as the institution's interim president and is expected to be named permanent president following a formal search. Presidential searches typically take months and involve a search committee and nationwide candidate call, culminating in a shortlist of candidates (in UF's most recent search the list was as short as one candidate) who must be vetted by the State University System's Board of Governors. 'By every measure Rhea has been exceptional in leading our university to unprecedented levels of success,' trustees Chair Will Weatherford said in a news release. 'For more than four decades she has stayed connected to USF and we would not be where we are today without her.' Law's husband, Wayne Williams, died in September. 'After over 40 years as an employee, student, board member and chair, donor, volunteer and now president, I am filled with gratitude and pride for all we have achieved,' Law said. 'Serving this community as USF's eighth president has been the honor of my lifetime, and I look forward to cheering on the continued success of this incredible university.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
