On November 14
th
, Steven C. Currall outlined his vision for the University of South Florida’s future in a
speech
to students, faculty, staff and alumni during his inauguration as the university’s seventh president.
Calling USF “the fastest-rising public university in the country,” Currall aims to build on current momentum and propel USF to become a top 25 public university in the United States. Over the past 10 years, no other public institution in the nation has risen faster among U.S. News and World Report’s rankings than USF.
Currall sees a strategic advantage for USF over other universities due to its location in a growing metropolitan region with a focus on innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. He believes USF serves as a catalyst for economic growth and feels USF can become to Tampa Bay what Stanford University has been to Silicon Valley due to its unique focus on both “excellence and opportunity.”
Currall envisions the ultimate objective for USF is to reach eligibility for the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group of the 65 top research universities in North America.
