Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Steve Currall as the seventh president of the University of South Florida

Dr. Currall, who serves as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southern Methodist University (SMU), will assume the role on July 1, 2019. His appointment is pending confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the 12-member State University System. The Board of Governors is scheduled to meet on March 28.

He will succeed Dr. Judy Genshaft, who will step down after a transformational 19-year tenure at USF.

Dr. Currall brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will sustain the strong momentum we have as a thriving global research university and propel us to even greater preeminence. He is a distinguished academic leader with experience at high-performing research universities, including members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). He has a deep understanding and respect for student success, academic freedom, shared governance, diversity and inclusion, and research and innovation. He will be a valued leader of the Tampa Bay community and ensure that USF continues to be a strong economic driver for our state.

In his current role at SMU, Dr. Currall oversees all academic activities and plays a key role in managing the university’s budget. He led the process to develop a campus-wide strategic plan. He is also the David B. Miller Endowed Professor and holds academic appointments in the Cox School of Business, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences and the Lyle School of Engineering.

Previously he worked at the University of California, Davis, an AAU member, serving as the chancellor’s senior advisor for strategic projects and initiatives, dean of the graduate school of management. During his time in California, Dr. Currall was also vice chair of the board of directors and member of the executive committee for the 10-campus University of California system’s Global Health Institute.

His experience includes positions at AAU institutions Rice University, the University of Chicago and Cornell University. On an international level, Dr. Currall spent time at University College London, serving as a professor and founding chair of the department of management science and innovation in the faculty of engineering sciences, where he was also a vice dean.

A psychological scientist, Dr. Currall has earned more than $21 million in research grants and has taught for nearly three decades on organizational psychology topics including innovation, emerging technologies, negotiation and corporate governance. Dr. Currall was lead author of a book on university-business-government collaboration, he has served on several editorial review boards, and he is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Dr. Currall received a PhD in organizational behavior from Cornell, a master’s degree in social psychology from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University.

Dr. Currall is married to Cheyenne Currall, PhD., vice president and executive advisor for global advancement at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

I know that you will find Dr. Currall as impressive and engaging as we have throughout the search process. Visit www.usf.edu/7thpresident to learn more about Dr. Currall.

I want to thank our broadly representative 15-member search committee for its hard work over the past six months. Each member contributed meaningful input that helped bring us to a successful outcome today. I also want to thank our executive search firm, Greenwood/Asher and Associates, for their tireless work in identifying and recruiting a highly competitive pool of applicants. And thank you to our three other very qualified finalists for their sincere interest in the University of South Florida and for all they are doing to make a positive national impact on higher education.

I also want to again thank Dr. Genshaft, her husband Steve, and their family for all they have done for our university, our students, our faculty and staff, and our community. President Genshaft’s contributions have made USF the world-renowned Preeminent research university it is today, laying a strong foundation for USF to continue to reach new heights of excellence. Her work has transformed the university and the Tampa Bay region forever.

Finally, I want to thank you, the members of the USF community, for your interest and involvement throughout the search process. To our passionate students, faculty, staff and alumni, thank you for supporting the Board of Trustees as we worked to recruit the very best leader who can build on our success and take USF to the next level. I am confident that with the continued commitment of this community and the leadership of our new president-elect, USF’s future is brighter than ever.

GO BULLS!
Brian Lamb

Chair, USF Board of Trustees