TAMPA, Fla. -- University of South Florida System President Judy Genshaft will step down from her position on July 1.
- USF announces that Judy Genshaft will leave position
- School climbed 10 spots in U.S. News & World Report report Monday
- Genshaft served for nearly two decades in post
The school made the announcement Monday morning.
"The University of South Florida is on a trajectory unlike ever before in its history," Genshaft said in a letter to the USF community.
"We are reaching milestones once reserved for universities twice our age. We continue to make groundbreaking strides in research, student success, teaching and community impact," said Genshaft, who became president in 2000.
According to the university, enrollment has grown by 40 percent while its four-year graduation rate has tripled during Genshaft's tenure.
U.S. News and World Report said Monday that USF has climbed 10 spots to No. 58 on its list of top public universities in the country, USF's highest ranking ever in the national publication.
"I am fortunate to have served alongside our great president and witnessed the leadership she has provided during her remarkable tenure," said USF Board of Trustees Chair Brian Lamb.
"We are performing at a higher level than ever before, making a lasting impact on the Tampa Bay region and the state of Florida, and none of it would be possible without the visionary leadership of Judy Genshaft. Her legacy will be felt for generations to come," he said.
In June, under Genshaft's leadership, USF earned the designation of Preeminence, placing USF in the most elite category of state universities in Florida.
A native of Ohio, Genshaft earned her bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master's and doctoral degrees from Kent State University.