Dear USF Community,
I am writing to share with you an important update about my leadership team.
Dr. Karen Holbrook, regional chancellor of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, has informed me that she will retire from her role at the end of this calendar year. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Holbrook for her dedicated leadership, substantial contributions to the Sarasota-Manatee campus and impact on the broader USF community throughout her time as regional chancellor.
Since her appointment in 2018, Dr. Holbrook has successfully led the campus through a period of transformation and growth. During her tenure, USF Sarasota-Manatee has achieved several significant milestones, including becoming a residential campus for the first time with the opening of the new Student Center and Atala Residence Hall this fall, receiving the largest gift in campus history with the naming of the Baldwin Group School of Risk Management and Insurance, and developing many important partnerships across the community. In addition, Dr. Holbrook has been a strong advocate for enhancing research opportunities for faculty and students.
After beginning her career as a biomedical researcher, faculty member and administrator, Dr. Holbrook held leadership positions at numerous higher education institutions, including the University of Georgia, the University of Florida, the University of Washington and The Ohio State University, where she served as the institution's first woman president for five years. At USF, she has held several key leadership roles, including senior vice president for global affairs and international research and senior vice president for research and innovation.
I have asked Dr. Brett Kemker, regional vice chancellor and vice provost of academic affairs and student success on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, to serve as interim regional chancellor beginning in January. Dr. Kemker has served in academic and administrative positions at several institutions throughout his career, and we are grateful for his willingness to take on this role.
We deeply appreciate Dr. Holbrook's commitment to helping ensure a smooth transition over the next couple of months, and everything she has done to lead the campus over the past seven years. Please join me in thanking Dr. Holbrook for her unwavering dedication to the success of our students, university and community.
Sincerely,
Rhea F. Law
President