UCF names members of its presidential search panel

The University of Central Florida has named the members of a search committee that will assist the Board of Trustees in choosing a successor for President John Hitt. After serving as the college’s president for 25 years, he said last week he plans to retire in 2018.

The search committee includes members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, alumni and other Central Florida residents.

The Board of Trustees will vote on Friday to confirm the search committee members.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who said earlier this week he will not apply for the post, is one of the 15 committee members. He previously said he was interested in the job, but he said Monday he plans to run for re-election in 2019.

Over the next several months, committee members are expected to recommend five finalists for the college’s top post to the Board of Trustees.

Marcos Marchena, chairman of the UCF Board of Trustees, said during a press conference about Hitt’s retirement that he expects the trustees to choose a new president by the end of June, when Hitt is scheduled to retire.

The search committee members are: Trustee David Walsh; Trustee Beverly Seay; Trustee William Yeargin; Florida Board of Governors member Sydney Kitson; faculty member Manoj Chopra; faculty member Linda Walters; university staff member Gordon Chavis; Student Government Association Vice President Cristina Barreto; Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus Rick Walsh; former UCF Trustee Conrad Santiago; UCF Foundation Emeritus Director Michael Manglardi; UCF Alumni Board Chair Sara Bernard; Valencia College west campus President Falecia Williams; Dyer; and Dr. Phillips Inc. and the Dr. P. Phillips Foundation President Ken Robinson.

Under Hitt’s direction, UCF has grown to 66,000 students. It has started a medical school, built an on-campus football stadium, added more than 100 new buildings and plans to open a campus in downtown Orlando in 2019.