| John C. Hitt, Ph.D. | |
|---|---|
| University of Central Florida | |
| Term | 1992 – Present |
| Predecessor | Dr. Steven Altman |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Born | 1940 Houston, Texas |
| Alma mater | Austin College (B.A) Tulane University (M.S. & Ph.D.) |
| Residence | Burnett House Orlando, FL |
| Profession | President of the University of Central Florida |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Salary | $800,703[1] |
| Spouse | Martha Hitt |
| Children | Two |
John C. Hitt, Ph.D. is an American professor and academic administrator, serving as the fourth and current president of the University of Central Florida since March 1, 1992.[2] Hitt was named the Orlando Sentinel's Central Floridian of the Year in 2005, and is currently the longest serving university president in the State of Florida.[1][3]
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Raised in Houston, Texas, Hitt graduated from Austin College in Sherman, Texas in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He continued his education at Tulane University, where he completed both his Masters of Science and his Ph.D. by 1966. He would stay at Tulane, where his career as an assistant professor began. In 1969, Hitt moved to Texas Christian University, working as an associate professor of psychology. Three years later, he became associate dean of the university, and in 1974, he became vice president of the school's Research Foundation and soon after dean of the graduate school.
After serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology at Bradley University in Illinois for ten years, he moved to the University of Maine in 1987 as vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology. Four years later he was named interim president of the school before accepting the president position at the University of Central Florida.[2]
Under the direction of Hitt, UCF has raised admissions standards, increased research funding, built new facilities, and established notable partnerships with major research institutions.[4] Hitt's efforts have resulted in not only an increase in the university's academic profile, but also an on-campus football stadium, new arena, more on-campus housing, and the development of the UCF College of Medicine at Lake Nona. In addition, the university's football program moved from Division I-AA to Division I-A (FBS) in 1996, and UCF has become a "very high research activity" university as ranked by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.[5]
In October 2011, Hitt accepted a five-year contract extension.[6]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Steven Altman |
Fourth President of the University of Central Florida 1992 - Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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