Eleven people have applied so far to become the next president of the University of South Florida, a spokesman said Wednesday.
They include one current president at a for-profit university in Colorado, at least three professors and an engineer at the U.S. Department of Energy. Three of the applicants are from international universities -- none are from USF.
University media relations director Adam Freeman said a larger pool of applicants is expected as the search progresses.
While a 15-member committee chaired by trustee Les Muma is leading the search, applications are being handled by an executive search firm, Greenwood/Asher & Associates.
Freeman also clarified media reports that Muma told a university workshop in January that the search firm had received more than 30 applications.
"(Muma) was referencing conversations he’s having with the search firm where individuals are discussed as possible prospects, which he then reviews through publicly available sources to learn more about their professional backgrounds," Freeman told WUSF in an email. "Most, if not all, of the people discussed would not even be aware their names have been mentioned in any conversations, nor have they necessarily expressed any interest in the job."
Freeman added that the USF Board of Trustees still expects to name a successor this spring, before current president Judy Genshaft retires in July.
Genshaft, 71, has been president of the university since 2000.
During her tenure, the university’s enrollment rose by 40 percent, its graduation rate tripled and its endowment nearly doubled, going from $254 million to $480 million dollars.
