University names regional chancellor

SARASOTA — University of South Florida System President Judy Genshaft named Karen Holbrook the new regional chancellor of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.

Holbrook will begin her new position on Jan. 2.

She most recently served as executive vice president at USF Sarasota-Manatee and senior advisor to Genshaft. Previously, she was interim president at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after leaving USF where she was senior vice president for research and innovation and then senior vice president for global affairs and international research. Before coming to USF, Holbrook served as president of The Ohio State University from 2002 to 2007.

Prior to leading Ohio State, she served in leadership roles at the University of Georgia, University of Florida and University of Washington.

“Dr. Holbrook has strong ties to the Sarasota-Manatee region and brings an impressive record of accomplishment in higher education to the regional chancellor's position,” Genshaft says in a statement. “I am confident she will continue the USF System's strong upward trajectory.”

Terry Osborn was the interim regional chancellor for the last nine months. Donna Petersen, senior associate vice president and dean of the USF College of Public Health, chaired the search advisory committee.

The USF system includes three institutions — USF, USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee.