President of the University of Florida

This List of Presidents of the University of Florida includes all sixteen of the men who have served as the president of the University of Florida

University of Florida

The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...

since the modern university was created from the consolidation

Consolidation (business)

Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...

of four predecessor institutions in 1905.

The University of Florida is a public university

State university

In the United States, a state college or state university is one of the public colleges or universities funded by or associated with the state government. In some cases, these institutions of higher learning are part of a state university system, while in other cases they are not. Several U.S....

, created and supported by the State of Florida, and it is a designated "Flagship University" within the State University System of Florida

State University System of Florida

The State University System of Florida is a system of eleven public universities in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2011, over 320,000 students were enrolled in Florida's state universities...

. The primary campus of the university is located in Gainesville

Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...

, and it has facilities in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...

, Orlando

Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...

, throughout Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, and even in Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

. The university traces its origins to 1853, the founding date of the East Florida Seminary

History of the University of Florida

The history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...

in Ocala, Florida

Ocala, Florida

Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...

, the oldest of the university's four predecessor institutions. Following the 1905 merger of its predecessor institutions, the newly consolidated men's university and land-grant college was first known as the "University of the State of Florida." The name was officially shortened to the "University of Florida" in 1909.

To date, the youngest president of the University of Florida has been Andrew Sledd

Andrew Sledd

Andrew Warren Sledd was an American theologian, university professor and university president. A native of Virginia, he was the son of a prominent Methodist minister, and was himself ordained as a minister after earning his bachelor's degree and master's degree...

, who facilitated the organization of the new university from the consolidation of its predecessor institutions in 1905. When the Florida Board of Control

Florida Board of Control

The Florida Board of Control was the statewide governing body for the State University System of Florida, which included all public universities in the state of Florida. It was replaced by the Florida Board of Regents in 1965.- History :...

appointed Sledd as the first president of the new state university on June 7, 1905, he was five months shy of his thirty-fifth birthday. The longest-serving president of the university was John J. Tigert

John J. Tigert

John James Tigert, IV was an American university president, university professor and administrator, college sports coach and the U.S. Commissioner of Education. Tigert was a native of Tennessee and the son and grandson of Methodist bishops...

, who held the office for nineteen years from 1928 to 1947. The first university faculty member to become its permanent president was J. Wayne Reitz

J. Wayne Reitz

Julius Wayne Reitz was an American agricultural economist, professor and university president. Reitz was a native of Kansas, and earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in his chosen field. After working as an agricultural economist, university professor and U.S...

in 1955, and the first university alumnus

Alumnus

An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...

to become its president was Stephen C. O'Connell

Stephen C. O'Connell

Stephen Cornelius O'Connell was an American attorney, appellate judge and university president. O'Connell was a native of Florida, and earned bachelor's and law degrees before becoming a practicing attorney...

in 1967.

The current president of the University of Florida is J. Bernard "Bernie" Machen

Bernie Machen

James Bernard "Bernie" Machen is an American university professor and administrator. Machen is a native of Mississippi, and earned multiple academic degrees before becoming a university administrator and president...

. Using the university's counting method (acting or "interim" presidents are not numbered), Machen is the eleventh president of the university and has served since 2003. Ten men have previously served as the university's permanent president, and five have served as its interim, or acting, president pending the appointment of a new permanent president.

List of presidents

Term	President	Background and accomplishments
First 1905–1909		Andrew W. Sledd Andrew Sledd Andrew Warren Sledd was an American theologian, university professor and university president. A native of Virginia, he was the son of a prominent Methodist minister, and was himself ordained as a minister after earning his bachelor's degree and master's degree... was the founding president of the "University of the State of Florida," the newly consolidated men's land-grant college and state university in Gainesville. He nominated the initial faculty in 1905, established admissions standards and curriculum, and oversaw the transfer of assets from the university's temporary Lake City Lake City, Florida Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an... campus to the new permanent Gainesville campus in 1906. An ordained Methodist minister, Sledd later served as the president of Methodist-affiliated Southern University Birmingham-Southern College Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college... and became a prominent New Testament New Testament The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament.... scholar at the Candler School of Theology Candler School of Theology Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1914, the school was named after Warren Akin Candler, a former President and Chancellor of Emory University and a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South... at Emory University Emory University Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of... .
Second 1909–1927		Albert A. Murphree Albert A. Murphree Albert Alexander Murphree was an American college professor and university president. Murphree was a native of Alabama, and became a mathematics instructor after earning his bachelor's degree... organized many of the University of Florida's first constituent colleges and schools, oversaw financing and construction of numerous new campus buildings, increased student enrollment from 186 to over 2,000, and was responsible for the beginnings of many of the modern university's traditions. Murphree oversaw the university's growth from a small state college to a major regional university, and he was widely recognized as laying the foundation for the university's later expansion and success. Murphree was a mathematics Mathematics Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity... professor and the third president of Florida State University Florida State University The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation... before becoming president of the University of Florida.
Interim 1927–1928		James M. Farr became the acting president of the University of Florida following the unexpected death of Albert Murphree. He was an English language English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria... and literature English literature English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J.... scholar, and served as the first vice president Vice president A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president... of the university from its legislative consolidation in 1905, and chairman of the English Department, until his retirement in 1934. As a professor, he was responsible for the beginnings of the university's honor system Honor system An honor system or honesty system is a philosophical way of running a variety of endeavors based on trust, honor, and honesty. Something that operates under the rule of the "honor system" is usually something that does not have strictly enforced rules governing its principles... . In retirement, Farr wrote a narrative history of the university and its predecessor institution, Florida Agricultural College History of the University of Florida The history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the... , called The Making of a University.
Third 1928–1947		John J. Tigert, IV John J. Tigert John James Tigert, IV was an American university president, university professor and administrator, college sports coach and the U.S. Commissioner of Education. Tigert was a native of Tennessee and the son and grandson of Methodist bishops... was an All-Southern Southern Conference The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North... halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... , a Rhodes Scholar, a college basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... and football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... head coach, the president of Kentucky Wesleyan College Kentucky Wesleyan College Kentucky Wesleyan College is a private Methodist college in Owensboro, Kentucky, a city on the Ohio River. KWC is just 40 minutes east of Evansville, Indiana, 2 hours north of Nashville, Tennessee, 2 hours west of Louisville, Kentucky, and 4 hours east of St. Louis, Missouri... and the U.S. Commissioner of Education Commissioner of Education The Commissioner of Education was the title given to the head of the National Bureau of Education, a former unit within the Department of the Interior in the United States... . As the longest-serving president of the University of Florida, he prompted the creation of University College and the imposition of new general education requirements, led the effort to finance and build Florida Field, was instrumental in the formation of the Southeastern Conference Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama... in 1932, advocated the creation of the athletic grant-in-aid, and oversaw the growth of the student body from approximately 2,200 to over 7,500. Tigert was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move... in 1970.
Interim 1947		H. Harold Hume Harold Hume Hardrada Harold Hume was a Canadian-born American university professor, administrator and horticulturalist. Hume was a native of Ontario, and earned bachelor's and master's degrees before embarking on a career as a research botanist, horticulturalist and professor... became the acting president of the University of Florida following the resignation Resignation A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock... of John J. Tigert in 1947. Hume was a prominent horticulturalist, Dean Dean (education) In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both... of the College of Agriculture, the university's Provost Provost (education) A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland.... for Agriculture, and author of numerous horticultural books and academic journal Academic journal An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research... articles. He was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 1965.
Fourth 1947–1953		J. Hillis Miller J. Hillis Miller, Sr. Joseph Hillis Miller, Sr. was an American university professor, education administrator and university president. Miller was a native of Virginia, and earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees before embarking on an academic career... implemented the University of Florida's post-World War II enrollment increases, the integration of women into the student body, and major expansion of campus facilities. Most notably, Miller was responsible for obtaining approval and funding of the university's Health Science Center and College of Medicine, the state of Florida's first public medical school and teaching hospital.
Interim 1953–1955		John S. Allen John S. Allen John Stuart Allen was an American astronomer, university professor and university president. He was a native of Indiana, and pursued a career as a professor of astronomy after receiving his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees... became the acting president of the University of Florida following the unexpected death of J. Hillis Miller. During his nearly fifteen months as interim president, Allen continued Miller's campus building projects and worked to improve veteran Veteran A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."... education. He was a professor of astronomy and executive vice president of the university, and later served as the founding president of the University of South Florida University of South Florida The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA... from 1957 to 1970.
Fifth 1955–1967		J. Wayne Reitz J. Wayne Reitz Julius Wayne Reitz was an American agricultural economist, professor and university president. Reitz was a native of Kansas, and earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in his chosen field. After working as an agricultural economist, university professor and U.S... 's administration was responsible for the largest expansion of the University of Florida's physical plant and the construction of over 300 campus facilities, and he oversaw the peaceful racial integration Racial integration Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely... of the university. The university's first professor to serve as its permanent president, he was an agricultural economist and the university's Provost Provost (education) A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland.... for Agriculture before becoming its president. Reitz remained actively involved in the university's fund-raising activities until his death in 1993.
Sixth 1967–1973		Stephen C. O'Connell Stephen C. O'Connell Stephen Cornelius O'Connell was an American attorney, appellate judge and university president. O'Connell was a native of Florida, and earned bachelor's and law degrees before becoming a practicing attorney... 's presidential administration oversaw university enrollment increases, expansion of educational opportunities for African-American students, reorganized the alumni association with a new emphasis on private fund-raising, and kept the university open during civil rights and Vietnam war protests. O'Connell was the first alumnus of the University of Florida to serve as its president, and previously was a justice of the Florida Supreme Court Florida Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each... from 1955 to 1967.
Interim 1973–1974		E. Travis York E. T. York E. Travis "E.T." York, Jr. was an American agronomist, professor, university administrator, agricultural extension administrator, and U.S. presidential adviser. York was a native of Alabama, and earned his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in agricultural sciences... became the acting president of the University of Florida following the resignation of Stephen C. O'Connell. York also served as the university provost and executive vice president, and was responsible for the founding of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information... (IFAS), and was later appointed to be the Chancellor Chancellor (education) A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector.... of the State University System of Florida State University System of Florida The State University System of Florida is a system of eleven public universities in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2011, over 320,000 students were enrolled in Florida's state universities... from 1975 to 1980. Before becoming provost, York was the head of the Alabama and United States agricultural extension services.
Seventh 1974–1984		Robert Q. Marston Robert Q. Marston Robert Quarles "Bob" Marston was an American physician, research scientist, governmental appointee and university administrator. Marston was a native of Virginia, and, after earning his bachelor's, medical and research degrees, he became a research scientist and medical professor... was a Rhodes Scholar, medical doctor and research scientist. Marston established programs to attract National Merit Scholars, helped establish the State of Florida's Eminent Scholars Program, and dramatically increased the university's private financial support. During his tenure, the university matured into one of the nation's ten largest single-campus universities and one of the three most comprehensive in the scope of its academic programs. Marston previously served as the director of the National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation... and dean of the University of Mississippi University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the... School of Medicine University of Mississippi School of Medicine The University of Mississippi School of Medicine is the medical school of the University of Mississippi.Created in 1903 on the Oxford, Mississippi campus, the School of Medicine was used as a hospital during the Civil War for both Union and Confederate soldiers, especially those who were wounded... .
Eighth 1984–1989		Marshall M. Criser, Jr. Marshall Criser Marshall McAllister Criser, Jr. is an American corporate lawyer and former university administrator. Criser is a native of New Jersey, and earned his bachelor's and law degrees before becoming a practicing attorney... guided the University of Florida's application to the Association of American Universities Association of American Universities The Association of American Universities is an organization of leading research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education... (AAU), initiated the most successful fund-raising campaign in the history of the University of Florida, reduced the size of the undergraduate student body while maintaining faculty and state funding, increased admissions standards and upper-division academic progress requirements, and dealt with the repercussions of NCAA football infractions. He previously served as the chairman of the Florida Board of Regents Florida Board of Regents The Florida Board of Regents was from 1965 to 2001 the governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all public universities in the state of Florida, United States. It was created to replace a predecessor body called the Florida Board of Control, which had existed from... and the president of The Florida Bar The Florida Bar The Florida Bar is the integrated bar association for the state of Florida. It is the third largest such bar association in the United States. Its duties include the regulation and discipline of attorneys.... .
Interim 1989–1990		Robert A. Bryan Robert A. Bryan Robert Armistead "Bob" Bryan is a former American university professor, administrator and university president. Bryan is a native of Pennsylvania, and earned his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees before becoming a professor of English literature... became the acting president of the University of Florida after the resignation of Marshall Criser, and was responsible for the removal of the football and basketball head coaches for violations of NCAA rules and the beginning of new athletic oversight reforms. Memorably, he led the negotiations to bring former Gators quarterback and Heisman Trophy-winner Steve Spurrier Steve Spurrier Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach... back to his alma mater Alma mater Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:... as its new head football coach in 1990. Bryan previously served as the university provost and vice president for academic affairs, and had helped to improve the university's academic programs. He later served as the interim 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... in 1991 and the interim president of the University of South Florida University of South Florida The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA... from 1993 to 1994.
Ninth 1990–1999		John V. Lombardi John V. Lombardi John Vincent Paul Maher Lombardi is an American university professor and administrator. Lombardi currently serves as the president of the Louisiana State University System, a position he has held since 2007. He is a native of California, and earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees... became the president of the University of Florida with the mission of leading it "into the top tier of American universities." Lombardi reasserted active control over the university's athletic program, guided the university community through the crisis and aftermath of the Danny Rollings murders, promoted the aggressive adoption of new technologies, and allocated funds among the university's colleges and departments based on productivity and tangible success. Before becoming president of the university, he was a Latin American history professor and served as the provost of Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States... ; subsequently, he was the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Massachusetts Amherst The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system... and is the current president of the Louisiana State University System Louisiana State University System The Louisiana State University System is budgetarily the largest public university system in Louisiana. John V. Lombardi is the system's president... .
Tenth 1999–2003		Charles E. Young led the university into the 21st Century, guiding it through a difficult time of recession, coping with its new governing structure and the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, extending the university's capital campaign, and implementing its first strategic plan. Young was formerly a political science Political science Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior... professor and previously served twenty-nine years as the chancellor of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
Eleventh 2003–present		J. Bernard Machen Bernie Machen James Bernard "Bernie" Machen is an American university professor and administrator. Machen is a native of Mississippi, and earned multiple academic degrees before becoming a university administrator and president... is the current president of the university, and his administration has worked to improve diversity, sustainability, and graduate education. Machen was previously the dean of the University of North Carolina University of North Carolina Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century... school of dentistry, the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs of the University of Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... , and the president of the University of Utah University of Utah The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest... .

External links

Past Presidents – Official website of the University of Florida, Office of the President.

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

List of presidents

See also

External links