Executive Searches

The Opportunity

The Director provides strategic vision and leadership for the academic, co-curricular, administrative, and operational dimensions of the UF Honors Program. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, university leaders, colleges, academic departments, and external partners, the Director will advance a shared vision for a nationally distinctive honors experience.

The next Director will inherit a program with compelling assets: a nationally recognized advising model; innovative honors courses; signature experiential learning opportunities; a highly engaged student community; partnerships across a comprehensive research university; and a philosophy built around Opportunity, Community, and Challenge.

The Director will have the opportunity to bring these strengths together around a bold, cohesive strategy that defines what honors education can mean at a large, comprehensive, research-intensive institution.

This leader will be expected not simply to administer an established program, but to imagine what comes next.

The UF Honors Experience

The UF Honors Program is a dynamic academic community for highly motivated and intellectually curious undergraduate students. Through innovative coursework, interdisciplinary learning, leadership development, service, experiential opportunities, and close engagement with faculty and peers, Honors complements students’ academic majors while encouraging them to explore complex questions and pursue ambitious goals.

At the center of that experience are three interconnected pillars.

Opportunity – Honors opens doors to deeper engagement with the university and to personalized pathways for academic, professional, and personal growth. Students have access to distinctive courses, experiential learning, research and internship opportunities, faculty connections, leadership experiences, fellowship opportunities, early registration privileges, and priority housing in Honors Village.

Community – Within a university of tens of thousands of students, Honors creates a smaller and highly supportive intellectual community. Students build relationships with peers, advisors, and faculty across academic disciplines and interests, developing connections that can extend well beyond their undergraduate experience. The program intentionally emphasizes collaboration rather than competition.

Challenge – UF views Honors not simply as recognition for past accomplishment, but as an invitation to continued growth. Through rigorous academics, leadership, intellectual exploration, personal development, and experiences beyond the traditional classroom, students are encouraged to stretch themselves, redefine success, and discover new possibilities.

To learn more about this opportunity visit: Careers at UF – Director, Honors Program

Committee Chair: 

Matthew Jacobs, Associate Provost – Undergraduate Education and Student Success

Contact UF HR Executive Search and Consulting Partners at stg@hr.ufl.edu for additional information.

About the Opportunity

The Dean of University Libraries serves as the chief academic and administrative officer for the George A. Smathers Libraries and reports directly to the Provost. The Dean will lead the university’s library system in advancing research, teaching, and learning while ensuring the highest level of service to faculty, students, and the broader academic community.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and implementing a strategic vision for the future of UF’s libraries to anticipate and meet the changing needs of our faculty, students, staff, and greater community.
• Managing a $47 million budget and staff of over 250 library professionals, faculty, and support personnel.
• Expanding digital and print collections to support interdisciplinary research and scholarship.
• Strengthening partnerships with campus stakeholders and external organizations to enhance UF’s research enterprise.
• Advocating for library resources and services at the UF and state level and serving as a national and international leader and champion of academic libraries and their constituents.
• Leading fundraising efforts, securing grants, and cultivating donor relationships to enhance library programs and initiatives.
• Dedication to fostering practices that advance the University Libraries Mission.

The ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking leader with a deep understanding of the evolving landscape of academic libraries.

About the University of Florida

UF, the state’s flagship institution, is a top-ranked public research university located in Gainesville. With 16 colleges, a major academic health center, and championship-winning athletics, UF is a leader in education, research, and innovation. Its 2,000-acre campus integrates historic charm with state-of-the-art facilities and preserved natural spaces, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Ranked 7th among U.S. public universities in the 2026 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, UF continues to drive advancements across multiple fields.

With over 62,000 students, 32,000 employees, and a $10 billion annual budget, UF is among the largest and most well-funded universities in the nation. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), UF boasts 6,600+ faculty, including National Academy members and award-winning scholars. In 2025, UF research expenditure surpassed $1.3 billion, demonstrating a strong commitment to discovery and technological advancement. The university leads in artificial intelligence education, incorporating AI into 230+ courses taught by 350 faculty, supported by HiPerGator, the most powerful university-owned supercomputer in the U.S.

UF’s strength lies in its comprehensive academic offerings, robust state support, and forward-thinking vision. With continuous growth and transformation, UF is dedicated to its mission “to be a premier university that the state, nation, and world look to for leadership.” For more information, visit www.ufl.edu.

About the George A. Smathers Libraries

The George A. Smathers Libraries system is a leading academic resource, serving as members of prominent library organizations such as Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL), Center for Research Libraries (CRL), and Coalition for Networked Information (CNI). Within Florida, they are part of Council of State University Libraries (CSUL) and Members Council on Library Services (MCLS), representing all 40 public state universities and colleges. The library system includes seven campus libraries and multiple off-campus facilities, making it the largest academic information resource in Florida. These libraries, including the Architecture and Fine Arts Library, Education Library, Health Science Center Libraries, Library West, Marston Science Library, and Smathers Library, report to the Dean of University Libraries, while the Lawton Chiles Legal Information Center is overseen by the Dean of the Levin College of Law. The system is supported by a staff of over 70 tenured and tenure-track faculty, more than 180 professional and technical staff, and approximately 150 student employees. For more information, visit UF Libraries.

To learn more about this opportunity visit: Careers at UF – Dean, University Libraries

Committee Chair:

Glenn Good, Dean and Professor, College of Education

Other members include:

• Aaron Hoover, Chief of Staff, Office of the Provost
• Patrick Reakes, Interim Dean for Smathers Libraries
• Valrie Minson, Associate Dean
• Elizabeth (Libby) Evans, Director, Administrative Services
• Donovan Welch, Chair, Library Leadership Board
• Jason von Meding, Professor & Director, Shimberg Center for Housing Studies and and Chair, Faculty Senate Infrastructure Council

Campus Interviews:

• Monday, October 12, 2026 – Tuesday, October 13, 2026
• Smathers Library (Conference Room 100)- 1508 Union Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611
• Contact UF HR Executive Search and Consulting Partners at stg@hr.ufl.edu for additional information.