John Hitt
| John C. Hitt | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 4th President of the University of Central Florida | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office March 1, 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Robert A. Bryan (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1940 (age 71) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | Martha Hitt |
| Children | Two |
| Residence | Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Austin College (B.A) Tulane University (M.S. & Ph.D.) |
| Profession | Professor |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Website | Office of the President of the University of Central Florida |
John C. Hitt is an American professor and academic administrator, serving as the fourth and current president of the University of Central Florida since March 1, 1992.[1] Hitt was named the Orlando Sentinel's Central Floridian of the Year in 2005, and is currently the longest serving university president in the State of Florida.[2][3]
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[edit] Early life and career
Raised in Houston, Texas, Hitt graduated from Austin College in Sherman, Texas in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He continued his education at Tulane University, where he completed both his Masters of Science and his Ph.D. by 1966. He would stay at Tulane, where his career as an assistant professor began. In 1969, Hitt moved to Texas Christian University, working as an associate professor of psychology. Three years later, he became associate dean of the university, and in 1974, he became vice president of the school's Research Foundation and soon after dean of the graduate school.
After serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology at Bradley University in Illinois for ten years, he moved to the University of Maine in 1987 as vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology. Four years later he was named interim president of the school before accepting the president position at the University of Central Florida.[1]
[edit] University of Central Florida Presidency
Hitt was selected by the Florida Board of Regents to succeed Robert A. Bryan as UCF's president. Bryan had been serving in an interim capacity since June 1991 when Steven Altman stepped down as the university's third president.[4]
Upon taking office in Spring 1992, UCF's enrollment was 20,302, and as of 2012 enrollment consists of 58,698 students representing over 140 countries, all 50 states and the District of Columbia.[5] Under the direction of Hitt, UCF has raised admissions standards, increased research funding, built new facilities, and established notable partnerships with major research institutions.[6]
Hitt's efforts have resulted in not only an increase in the university's academic profile, but also the construction of Bright House Networks Stadium, the UCF Arena, more on-campus housing, the development of the UCF College of Medicine at Lake Nona, and the formation of the Burnett Honors College and the College of Graduate Studies. Under his leadership UCF has become a "very high research activity" university as ranked by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and the university's football program ascended to Division I-A (FBS) in 1996 and will join the Big East Conference in 2013.[7]
In October 2011, Hitt accepted a five-year contract extension.[8] 2012 marks Hitt's twentieth year as UCF's president.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Meet the President University of Central Florida Office of the President.
- ^ "UCF's Hitt among nation's 10 highest-paid public-university presidents". Orlando Sentinel. 2011-04-03. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-04-03/features/os-ucf-president-john-hitt-salary-20110403_1_ucf-s-hitt-highest-paid-public-university-presidents-college-presidents.
- ^ Maxwell, Scott (2008-12-29). "Who is the most powerful person in Central Florida?". Orlando Sentinel. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-maxwell2808dec28,0,689864.column.
- ^ University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections, Robert A. Bryan Biographical Note. Retrieved February 17, 2012
- ^ "Headcount enrollment". University of Central Florida. http://www.iroffice.ucf.edu/enrollment/headcount.html. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ UCF chief gets top pay in Florida St. Petersberg Times.
- ^ "Carnegie Classifications - Institution Profile: University of Central Florida". The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/lookup_listings/view_institution.php?unit_id=132903&start_page=institution.php&clq={%22first_letter%22%3A%22U%22}. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- ^ "President Hitt talks to UCF students in State of the University Address". Orlando Sentinel. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/ucf/orl-ucf-state-of-university-102711,0,7602415.story. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
[edit] External links
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Steven Altman |
Fourth President of the University of Central Florida 1992 - Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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