John Hitt

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]

Early life

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]

University of Central Florida Presidency

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]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "UCF's Hitt among nation's 10 highest-paid public-university presidents". Orlando Sentinel. 2011-04-03. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-04-03/features/os-ucf-president-john-hitt-salary-20110403_1_ucf-s-hitt-highest-paid-public-university-presidents-college-presidents. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Meet the President University of Central Florida Office of the President.
3. ^ Maxwell, Scott (2008-12-29). "Who is the most powerful person in Central Florida?". Orlando Sentinel. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-maxwell2808dec28,0,689864.column. 
4. ^ UCF chief gets top pay in Florida St. Petersberg Times.
5. ^ "Carnegie Classifications - Institution Profile: University of Central Florida". The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/lookup_listings/view_institution.php?unit_id=132903&start_page=institution.php&clq={%22first_letter%22%3A%22U%22}. Retrieved 2011-04-17. 
6. ^ "President Hitt talks to UCF students in State of the University Address". Orlando Sentinel. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/ucf/orl-ucf-state-of-university-102711,0,7602415.story. Retrieved 2011-10-28. 

External links

• UCF Official Website
• Office of the President

Academic offices
Preceded by Steven Altman	Fourth President of the University of Central Florida 1992 - Present	Succeeded by Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Hitt, John
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1940
Place of birth	Houston, Texas
Date of death
Place of death