John Hitt
Encyclopedia
John C. Hitt, Ph.D. is an American
professor
and academic administrator
, serving as the fourth and current president of the University of Central Florida
since March 1, 1992. Hitt was named the Orlando Sentinel's
Central Floridian of the Year in 2005, and is currently the longest serving university president in the State of Florida.
in Sherman, Texas
in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He continued his education at Tulane University
, where he completed both his Masters of Science and his Ph.D.
by 1966. He would stay at Tulane, where his career as an assistant professor began. In 1969, Hitt moved to Texas Christian University
, working as an associate professor of psychology. Three years later, he became associate dean of the university, and in 1974, he became vice president of the school's Research Foundation and soon after dean of the graduate school.
After serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology at Bradley University
in Illinois for ten years, he moved to the University of Maine
in 1987 as vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology. Four years later he was named interim president of the school before accepting the president position at the University of Central Florida.
, new arena
, more on-campus housing, and the development of the UCF College of Medicine
at Lake Nona. In addition, the university's football program moved from Division I-AA to Division I-A (FBS) in 1996, and UCF has become a "very high research activity" university as ranked by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
.
In October 2011, Hitt accepted a five-year contract extension.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and academic administrator
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
, serving as the fourth and current president of the University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
since March 1, 1992. Hitt was named the Orlando Sentinel's
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
Central Floridian of the Year in 2005, and is currently the longest serving university president in the State of Florida.
Early life
Raised in Houston, Texas, Hitt graduated from Austin CollegeAustin College
Austin College is a private liberal arts college affiliated by covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church and located in Sherman, Texas, about 60 miles North of Dallas....
in Sherman, Texas
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He continued his education at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, where he completed both his Masters of Science and his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
by 1966. He would stay at Tulane, where his career as an assistant professor began. In 1969, Hitt moved to Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, working as an associate professor of psychology. Three years later, he became associate dean of the university, and in 1974, he became vice president of the school's Research Foundation and soon after dean of the graduate school.
After serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology at Bradley University
Bradley University
Bradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350....
in Illinois for ten years, he moved to the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
in 1987 as vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology. Four years later he was named interim president of the school before accepting the president position at the University of Central Florida.
University of Central Florida Presidency
Under the direction of Hitt, UCF has raised admissions standards, increased research funding, built new facilities, and established notable partnerships with major research institutions. Hitt's efforts have resulted in not only an increase in the university's academic profile, but also an on-campus football stadiumBright House Networks Stadium
Bright House Networks Stadium is the football stadium for the University of Central Florida’s football team, nicknamed the Knights. Located in Knights Plaza on the main campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, the stadium was the first on-campus stadium in NCAA Division I...
, new arena
UCF Arena
The UCF Arena is a multi-purpose arena complex located on the main campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, USA. It is the home to the UCF Knights men's and women's basketball teams...
, more on-campus housing, and the development of the UCF College of Medicine
University of Central Florida College of Medicine
The UCF College of Medicine is an academic college of the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, USA. The dean of the college is Deborah C. German, M.D....
at Lake Nona. In addition, the university's football program moved from Division I-AA to Division I-A (FBS) in 1996, and UCF has become a "very high research activity" university as ranked by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1905 and chartered in 1906 by an act of the United States Congress, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is an independent policy and research center, whose primary activities of research and writing have resulted in published reports on every level...
.
In October 2011, Hitt accepted a five-year contract extension.