TAMPA, Fla. – University of South Florida President Rhea Law announced Monday that she will be stepping down from her position, marking another significant change in leadership at Florida’s public universities.
Law, who has a long history with USF as a student, board member, and donor, took over as interim president in 2021 and was formally appointed president in March 2022. She will continue to serve as president until a successor is chosen through a national search.
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“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 statement. “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.”
Law’s resignation comes amidst a wave of leadership changes at Florida universities.
Former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez began serving as interim president of Florida International University on Monday, and former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner was recently appointed president of Florida Atlantic University. Several other universities are also operating with new or interim presidents.
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While the announcement did not specify the reasons for Law’s departure, it highlighted a number of accomplishments during her presidency, including USF’s acceptance into the prestigious Association of American Universities and progress toward building an on-campus football stadium.
Law’s departure marks the end of an era for USF, and the university community will now embark on a search for its next leader.
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