Florida Polytechnic University President to step down, continuing wave of state leadership changes

Florida Polytechnic University President Randy Avent will step down next year, continuing a wave of leadership changes at state universities.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Avent, who has been the Lakeland school’s only president since it opened in 2014, announced Monday that he will leave the job in July 2024 and, after a sabbatical, return to the faculty.

“Leading the university from its infancy to the strong campus we have today has been the privilege of my lifetime,” Avent’s said in the announcement. “I never imagined that I would be part of establishing a brand-new STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) university and molding the way it would serve students, industry and the entire state.”

Avent said he is “confident our Board of Trustees will conduct a successful presidential search and I’m committed to ensuring a seamless transition and Florida Poly’s ongoing success. As such, I will continue as president until my successor is solidly in place.”

While he heads the state’s newest university, Avent is the longest-serving current president in the university system. University of West Florida President Martha Saunders has the next-longest tenure, becoming president of the Pensacola school in January 2017.

Avent’s announcement came as Florida Atlantic University and New College of Florida, which is part of the university system, operate under interim presidents. Also, Florida Gulf Coast University President Aysegul Timur took her position on July 1.

Meanwhile, University of Florida President Ben Sasse, Florida State University President Richard McCullough, University of North Florida President Moez Limayem, University of South Florida President Rhea Law and Florida International University President Kenneth Jessell have taken the helm of their schools during the past two years.

Monday’s announcement did not include information about the process to find a replacement for Avent. Trustees at other universities have hired search firms to help find and winnow lists of candidates.

But some searches, including the ongoing process to find a new president of Florida Atlantic University, have led to controversy.

University system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues this month directed FAU to put its search on hold after the school’s Presidential Search Committee selected three finalists for the post. Rodrigues alleged that at least one candidate had been asked questions about their sexuality and preferred pronouns and that the search committee improperly participated in a “straw poll” in which members ranked their preferred candidates.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Brad Levine, chairman of the FAU search committee, has disputed the allegation that the search process was conducted improperly.

The suspension of the FAU process has fueled speculation about the possible candidacy of Rep. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, for the presidency. Fine, a political ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, was not on the list of three finalists.

Stacy Volnick has served as FAU’s interim president since former President John Kelly stepped down at the end of last year. Volnick previously was chief operating officer and vice president for administrative affairs at the school.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.