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University of Florida

Announcements and Updates

Dear UF Community,

As we recently announced, Dr. Stuart Bell was selected by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee as the sole finalist to be the University of Florida’s 14th president. We are excited to share our next steps in the process with you.

First, Dr. Bell will visit the UF campus on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. 

Members of the UF community are invited to join forums on June 3 beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Emerson Alumni Hall and hear directly from Dr. Bell. Please visit the Presidential Search Website for details on the three forums that include a Student Forum (1:00 p.m.), Faculty Forum (2:15 p.m. ), and Staff/Administrator Forum (3:30 p.m. ). The forums are open to all members of the UF community and public.

We encourage your input on questions to be asked of our presidential finalist. Visit the presidential search website here and complete the ‘Ask a Question’ form. Given the time constraints, not all questions may be asked, and some may be consolidated to avoid duplication. Please submit your questions by Sunday, May 31.

Second, the UF Board of Trustees will interview Dr. Stuart Bell on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

The Presidential Search Advisory Committee’s recommendation of Dr. Stuart Bell was given to the UF Board of Trustees for their consideration and approval. The Board will meet on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. in Emerson Alumni Hall to interview Dr. Bell. The meeting agenda will be posted on the Board website.

Thank you for your engagement in this process to select our next president.

 

Sincerely,

 

Rahul Patel

Chair, UF Presidential Search Advisory Committee

Vice Chair, UF Board of Trustees

Dr. Stuart R. Bell unanimously recommended as sole finalist for University of Florida President.

February 10, 2026 Agenda for Presidential Search Advisory Committee Meeting

Announcement of Presidential Search Listening Sessions and Stakeholder Survey

On December 16, 2025, the University of Florida Board of Trustees announced the launch of the search for UF’s next president and established a Presidential Search Advisory Committee to help guide this important process of identifying and recruiting outstanding candidates who reflect UF’s vision, values, and aspirations.
 
At the heart of this search is a commitment to listening to and learning from our community. We believe the success of this effort depends on understanding the hopes, priorities, and perspectives of the many stakeholders who care deeply about the University of Florida. To that end, we are taking several meaningful steps to ensure broad engagement and participation:  

  1. Listening Sessions: The Search Advisory Committee has posted proposed presidential qualifications and criteria to the Presidential Search Website here. This document was approved by the UF Board of Trustees less than a year ago after receiving extensive input from faculty, staff, students, alumni and donors, administrators and community members gathered through 10 listening sessions and an online survey. 

    Given how recent this document was created and the level of feedback and thought that went into it, the Committee invites the UF community to review it and share any suggested additions, refinements or modifications during our upcoming listening sessions. The listening sessions are scheduled for January 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., January 27, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., and February 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. These sessions are virtual via Zoom. For details on how to join these sessions, please visit the Presidential Search Website.

  2. Online Stakeholder Survey: For those unable to attend a session or who wish to provide additional input, we have launched an online stakeholder survey. This survey provides another opportunity to share your insights and priorities, ensuring every voice is heard. The survey is open now through January 30, 2026, and can be accessed here.

  3. Additional Feedback: In addition to the listening sessions and survey, we welcome all feedback at any time through the Presidential Search Website at presidentsearch.ufl.edu.


Your input is vital to this process. Together, we have an opportunity to lay a strong foundation for UF’s continued rise as one of the premier universities in the country. We look forward to collaborating with you as we embark on this exciting and important journey for our university.
 
Rahul Patel
Chair, UF Presidential Search Advisory Committee

January 12, 2026 Agenda for Presidential Search Advisory Committee Kickoff and Organizational Meeting.

UF Board of Trustees appoints presidential search advisory committee.