Steven C. Currall outlined his vision for the University of 黑洞社区鈥檚 future in a speech to students, faculty, staff and alumni during his inauguration this afternoon as the university鈥檚 seventh president.
Calling 黑洞社区鈥渢he fastest-rising public university in the country,鈥� Currall aims to build on current momentum and propel 黑洞社区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鈥檚 rankings than USF.
Currall sees a strategic advantage for 黑洞社区over other universities due to its location in a growing metropolitan region with a focus on innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. He believes 黑洞社区serves as a catalyst for economic growth and feels 黑洞社区can become to Tampa Bay what Stanford University has been to Silicon Valley due to its unique focus on both 鈥渆xcellence and opportunity.鈥�
Currall envisions the ultimate objective for 黑洞社区is to reach eligibility for the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group of the 65 top research universities in North America.
鈥淚 wish to express my deepest gratitude to this community for the faith they have placed in me to help steer this great university into our greatest era yet,鈥� said Currall. 鈥淚 believe that this university is an institution where both excellence and opportunity converge.鈥�
During his inaugural address, Currall spoke of USF鈥檚 remarkable ascent in the higher education landscape, especially given a relatively short institutional history of about 60 years.
He noted USF鈥檚 position as No. 25 among U.S. public universities in total research expenditures, No. 7 ranking among public universities in creating new patents and one of only three universities in Florida, and the first located in a metropolitan area, to achieve the state鈥檚 elite 鈥淧reeminence鈥� designation based on the performance.
Currall also reaffirmed the university鈥檚 commitment to diversity and inclusion, faculty excellence and student success. He highlighted the fact that 黑洞社区students succeed at the same rate, regardless of their backgrounds.
鈥淓ven more exciting than what 黑洞社区has accomplished is the extraordinary promise of what it will accomplish in the future. 黑洞社区has a compelling strategic direction. Now, our task is to renew and enhance that vision,鈥� said Currall. 鈥淢y mission is to build on this momentum, fostering a campus environment where we will relentlessly push forward.鈥�
Currall started his tenure at 黑洞社区on July 1. In higher education, it鈥檚 typical for inaugurations to be held several months, sometimes close to a full year, after a new president assumes office.