Thrive
USF President Steven Currall announces resignation
Steven Currall, who took over as president of the University of South Florida two years ago, has announced his resignation, effective Aug. 2.
“On a personal level, the demands of the president’s role are immense,” Currall wrote in a letter to USF faculty, staff and students. “The intensity of the past two years has put a strain on my health and my family. Therefore, after thoughtful reflection, I have decided to retire from the USF presidency to ensure that I preserve my health, as well as to spend more time with my wife, Cheyenne, and my 91-year-old father.”
Currall has faced many challenges over his years leading the university, chief among them overseeing consolidation between the Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee campuses and ensuring a successful accreditation process as One USF.
He has also had to navigate the many challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as guide the university through social unrest and a quest for more diversity, inclusion, and equality. This has been a recent source of controversy as the university’s Associate Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity resigned 10 days ago, after calling Currall’s decision to reconfigure the responsibilities of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity a “racially biased move” in an April 12 email to a USF administrator.
Over the past two years USF has raised approximately $230 million in philanthropy, amid a global pandemic. USF also has reached the top 50 public universities in U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings for the first time. Last month USF released a new 10 year strategic plan to guide it in its hopes to become a top 25 public university and join the Association of American Universities.
Currall replaced outgoing USF President Judy Genshaft, taking office July 1, 2019. In the coming weeks, the Board of Trustees will name an interim president as they search for a permanent replacement. Provost Ralph Wilcox will serve as acting president until then, per university protocol.
Catalyst Senior Writer and Editor Bill DeYoung contributed to this report.
HAL FREEDMAN
July 19, 2021at11:29 pm
Judy Genshaft forced a misguided consolidation of USF. Mr. Currall had to make that transition a success. That would create a lot of stress for anyone. It should never have been done. USFSP was a success as a separate entity within the USF system. I personally have withdrawn all support for USF, as a result of the consolidation.