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Whittaker came to UCF in August 2014 to serve as its provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, providing leadership to UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 13 colleges, multiple campuses and research centers and institutes. He also oversaw academic support services and was responsible for curriculum, academic planning, faculty appointments, faculty development and promotion and tenure decisions. He was promoted to provost and executive vice president in 2015.
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He became UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 fifth president on July 1, 2018. He was unanimously confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors in March 2018 after the UCF Board of Trustees selected him following a nationwide search. His resignation was accepted on February 21, 2019.
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Praised by students, faculty, staff and partners for his approachability, curiosity and compassion, Whittaker often was seen walking the campus with students, asking questions about faculty research in lab spaces and attending a variety of student-led events.
In January 2019, he penned an opinion piece in about higher education 麻豆精品 S檚 role in fostering social mobility and helping all students unleash their full potential for meaningful careers in a modern economy.
Whittaker is a professor of agricultural and biological engineering, with an equal passion for the arts, and for providing students with authentic learning experiences that will lead to greater success in their lives before and after graduation.
Whittaker holds a master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree and Ph.D. in agricultural engineering from Purdue and a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in the same field from Texas A&M. Before his arrival at UCF, he served more than two decades in faculty and leadership positions at Purdue and Texas A&M universities.
A Foundation of Excellence
Since 1968, UCF has grown from a small, technological school to one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 largest universities, constantly gaining in quality. Our legacy for excellence was built by leaders who believed in the power of education to transform lives, communities and our entire state.
