USF is on the hunt for its ninth president – and a 15-member search committee is leading the process. 

Michael Griffin, the Board of Trustees (BOT) vice chair and former USF student body president from 2001 to 2003, was selected as chair of the Presidential Search Committee. 

Griffin said in the press release that the search team is “committed” to finding the “best” candidate.

He also said the committee wants to help the university “pursue excellence.”

USF President Rhea Law announced Monday she will be stepping down after three-and-a-half combined years as interim president and president. She said she will remain in the role until a replacement is chosen. 

Will Weatherford, BOT chair, said USF’s “best days are ahead” in a university press release.

Related: USF community reflects on Law’s tenure amid future resignation

The search committee is responsible for recommending candidates to the BOT, which then selects the president for the Board of Governors to confirm, according to the email. 

The committee will partner with SP&A Executive Search, the same firm that assisted USF in selecting Law, according to BOT’s update. 

Griffin led the committee in the 2021-22 search leading to Law’s appointment, according to the email.

The search follows Florida Statute 1004.098, which keeps applicants’ identities confidential until a final group of candidates is decided. 

This means no names will be revealed until finalists are established, per state law.

Other search committee members include Derrick Brooks, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and founder of Derrick Brooks Charities, and John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital, USF Health’s teaching hospital.

Couris earned a doctorate degree in business administration from USF in 2021 and serves on the Executive Advisory Council of the Muma College of Business. 

Related: Rhea Law’s resignation announcement comes at a tumultuous time at USF

Charbel Barakat is also a member of the search committee. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Barakat to USF’s BOT on Feb. 14.

Barakat served on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board from 2023 until Tuesday and is a commissioner for the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission.

He is also a donor to the Republican Party of Florida, according to Florida Politics. His donations have supported candidates such as DeSantis, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, both of Florida. 

With Law’s contract set to end on March 31, the BOT will discuss her contract’s terms at a meeting on March 11, USF spokesperson Althea Johnson said.

USF launched a “presidential search website” where updates will be posted.