In a video posted online Thursday, the University of Florida’s new interim president, Kent Fuchs, laid out his top three priorities for the coming year. 

Fuchs said his first goal is to enhance UF’s excellence and reputation. 

“UF has had a trajectory like no other university in growing its national stature, and I’m committed with you to continue that momentum,” Fuchs said in the video. 

Second, Fuchs said he would work to position the university for the next president to most effectively serve and lead. Fuch said his third goal is the hope that UF’s community experiences joy. 

“My prayer has always been that UF will be known as a place where we care about one another, where we have joy in our work, and where we lead the nation in all that we do,” Fuchs said. 

Fuchs formerly served as UF’s president from 2015-2023, steering the institution into the top 5 of national rankings for public universities. In the year and a half since he retired from his presidency, he has remained at UF as a faculty member and president emeritus. 

The university has now called on Fuchs to return as an interim while it conducts a national search for a new president after Ben Sasse’s sudden resignation last month. 

Sasse announced his resignation after only 17 months on the job, citing his wife’s health and family time as reasons to leave the UF presidency. 

Fuchs said he was happy to step back into his former role. 

“Although I have very much enjoyed the past 18 months as a faculty member, and teaching this past spring in electrical and computer engineering, I’m also glad to return to a job that I loved for eight years—serving as UF’s president,” Fuchs said in the video. 

Fuchs will serve as interim president until the board of trustees selects the next president, which Fuchs said would likely be in 2025. During his interim presidency, he will continue teaching 50 students in electrical and computer engineering this fall. 

“I am thrilled that Kent has agreed to take on this important role at such a critical time to ensure a smooth and orderly transition as we prepare to initiate a national presidential search,” Mori Hosseini, Board of Trustees chair, said in an email announcement. “We owe him a huge debt of gratitude.” 

In an email to UF faculty, provost Scott Angle said the university is “thriving,” citing record research spending, national recognition in AI work, a robust freshman class and 443 new faculty members. 

While UF conducts leadership searches, Angle wrote that he, Fuchs and others will be “determining the best next steps” for the initiatives Sasse started during his time as president. 

“While any transition brings with it some uncertainty, this one is different owing to Emeritus and Interim President Fuchs,” Angle wrote. “His leadership in increasing UF’s stature more than any other research university in just eight years gives us confidence in his success guiding UF into 2025 and readying it for the 14th president.”