Stuart Bell is the new University of Florida president, concluding a two-year search

Date:

July 6, 2026

The University of Florida has a permanent president again.

The Florida Board of Governors approved former University of Alabama President Stuart Bell as president of the university Wednesday, ending two years of interim leadership.

During a two-hour special meeting in Tampa, Bell laid out his vision for the university while facing questions from governors about his experience responding to COVID, allowing free speech on campus, and about diversity, equity, and inclusion, the topic that tanked the last presidential finalist.

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Stuart Bell is the new University of Florida president, concluding a two-year search

The Always-On Insight and Networking Platform for Superintendents and Their Teams

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