1. having or marked by foresight and imagination (a visionary leader)
2. a person with original ideas about what the future will or could be like
3. John C. Hitt, fourth president of the University of Central Florida
In the annals of higher education, few university presidencies rival that the likes of two U.S. presidents and numerous scientific and economic
of our friend and colleague John Hitt who this week retires after 26 years development
at the helm of the University of Central Florida. His impact has been Development Council and the National Academies of Sciences,
far-reaching. Engineering and Medicine.
Beyond UCF’s meteoric growth in enrollment, research activity, athletics Not only has he lifted UCF’s standing, he has constantly worked to
and more, Dr. Hitt’s commitment to academic excellence stands as build the reputation of our region and state, taken numerous leadership
a tribute to what draws us to academic leadership: a well-educated positions in organizations devoted to higher education and found time
populace prepared and equipped for careers and civic life. for involvement in countless local civic efforts.
He has been an unrelenting advocate for public-private partnerships, We will miss his leadership, but look forward to his continued advice
perhaps best represented by our three universities’ 23-county economic and counsel as an emeritus co-chair of The Corridor, president emeritus
development initiative — the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. The of UCF and trusted adviser to his successor Dr. Dale Whittaker. While
Corridor grew from the belief that public universities could help attract, he has earned a chance to slow down and relax, something tells us we
retain and grow companies offering high-wage, high-value jobs in should all keep an eye on this academic icon who is never at a loss for
industries of the future through research partnerships. This belief proved new ideas.
organizations,
including
the
International
Economic
true thanks to the commitment of Dr. Hitt, and others, who saw The
Corridor to its fruition.
Our now 23-year-old collaboration was created by the Florida Legislature,
which continues to fund applied research partnerships with Florida
companies working alongside university faculty and their students, many
He is truly one-of-a-kind, and
Florida should say “thank you
for all you’ve done.”
of whom go on to careers with those companies as they grow. Equally
important is the billion-dollar downstream impact of the Matching Grants
Research Program – a 17:1 return on investment.
More than a thousand companies have participated in those partnerships Judy Genshaft Kent Fuchs
and the downstream impact includes nearly 300 patents resulting from President, University of South Florida President, University of Florida
the research, as well as sales growth and job creation; not to mention,
increased tax revenue for Florida.
This kind of collaboration among what some would call natural competitor
universities is unique.
And it has won accolades and attention from
In the same spirit of collaboration on which The Corridor was founded, a version of this letter
was published June 24, 2018, by editorial boards of the Orlando Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times
and Gainesville Sun.
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