TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Florida Board of Trustees is set to consider former University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell as the sole finalist to become the university’s 14th president.
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UF made the announcement on Monday, with Bell most recently serving as president of UA for 10 years.
During his time in Tuscaloosa, he oversaw increases in national rankings, enrollment, retention rates and research growth, including the university achieving R1 research status.
Before arriving in Tuscaloosa, Bell served as provost and as a professor of engineering at Louisiana State University and dean of engineering at University of Kansas. He was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2023.
“After a robust and widespread search, our committee has unanimously concluded that Dr. Bell is the best choice to lead the University of Florida,” Presidential Search Advisory Committee Chair Rahul Patel said in the announcement.
Retired Alabama football head coach Nick Saban also praised Bell in the release, calling him “a great leader at the University of Alabama” and “a good friend and passionate supporter of athletics.”
Bell said he was honored by the recommendation and pledged to help guide the University of Florida toward becoming “firmly established among the nation’s top three public universities.”
The recommendation still requires approval from the University of Florida Board of Trustees and confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors.
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