Judy L. Genshaft, Ph.D.
President, University of South Florida
Judy Genshaft was appointed president of the University of South Florida in July 2000.
During Dr. Genshaft's presidency, USF has been nationally recognized as a top-tier national research university, and it is on track to be among the top 50 public research universities within five years. With campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota/Manatee and Lakeland, USF serves nearly 42,600 students in more than 200 degree programs on the undergraduate, master's, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. USF has 12,000 employees and a budget of more than $1.2 billion annually.
President Genshaft led the development and implementation of a five-year strategic plan that focuses USF resources on strategic priorities. She has also developed a more focused plan to move USF into the top 50 of public research universities. The plan strengthens USF's faculty and program quality, student selectivity and achievement, research quality and productivity, and private support.
As the leader of a metropolitan research university, President Genshaft has established herself as a leader for economic development, especially related to high-technology and bioscience. President Genshaft has focused on partnering university research—which under her leadership topped $290 million last year—with corporate and entrepreneurial partners. She launched the university's high-tech business incubator and is developing USF's Research Park as a hub for bioscience research and entrepreneurship. Two new buildings in the Research Park will open in spring 2005.
President Genshaft is serving her second year as chair of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Committee of 100. She is also on the boards of Tampa Downtown Partnership, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Florida High-Tech Corridor and the Florida Council of 100.
Prior to joining USF, President Genshaft served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University at Albany, State University of New York. She also held various positions during a 16-year tenure at The Ohio State University. She holds a bachelor's degree in social work and psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, a master's degree in school counseling from Kent State University, and a doctorate in counseling psychology from Kent State. She has authored and co-authored 69 journal articles and 3 books.