Record-breaking Tampa university president announces retirement

After nearly four years in what began as an interim role in August 2021 and became permanent in March 2022, Rhea Law announced her retirement as the eighth president of the University of South Florida. 

“During my tenure we established bold goals — and thanks to our talented, dedicated team of faculty, staff, administrators and students — we exceeded them, sometimes soaring beyond what many thought was possible,” Law says in a statement. “After over 40 years as an employee, student, board member and chair, donor, volunteer and now president, I am filled with gratitude and pride for all we have achieved. Serving this community as USF’s eighth president has been the honor of my lifetime, and I look forward to cheering on the continued success of this incredible university.”

USF reached several milestones during Law’s time as president, including induction into the American Association of Universities; breaking ground on the on-campus stadium set to open in 2027; and breaking the university’s financial records: $738 million in research funding and a single-year fundraising effort of $168 million from over 54,000 donors last year. 

Law intends to stay in her role until the search for a new president is complete. The university says in a release that it will begin updates on the national search for a new president in the coming days. Law talked about her career at USF and before the college while on the Business Observer's podcast, From the Corner Office, in 2023.