Director, Honors Program

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

About The Position

The Director provides strategic vision and leadership for the academic, co-curricular, administrative, and operational dimensions of the UF Honors Program. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, university leaders, colleges, academic departments, and external partners, the Director will advance a shared vision for a nationally distinctive honors experience. The next Director will inherit a program with compelling assets: a nationally recognized advising model; innovative honors courses; signature experiential learning opportunities; a highly engaged student community; partnerships across a comprehensive research university; and a philosophy built around Opportunity, Community, and Challenge. The Director will have the opportunity to bring these strengths together around a bold, cohesive strategy that defines what honors education can mean at a large, comprehensive, research-intensive institution. This leader will be expected not simply to administer an established program, but to imagine what comes next. The UF Honors Program is a dynamic academic community for highly motivated and intellectually curious undergraduate students. Through innovative coursework, interdisciplinary learning, leadership development, service, experiential opportunities, and close engagement with faculty and peers, Honors complements students’ academic majors while encouraging them to explore complex questions and pursue ambitious goals. At the center of that experience are three interconnected pillars: Opportunity, Community, and Challenge. The University of Florida is Florida’s flagship university and a leading public research institution based in Gainesville. UF encompasses 16 colleges, a major academic health center, championship athletics, and a 2,000-acre campus that combines historic spaces, contemporary facilities, and preserved natural areas. UF is ranked No. 8 among U.S. public universities in the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings and is a member of the Association of American Universities. The university serves more than 62,000 students, employs approximately 32,000 people, and includes more than 6,600 faculty. UF reported record research expenditures of $1.34 billion in FY 2026. The scale and breadth of the institution creates extraordinary possibilities for honors students to connect across disciplines, engage in research and discovery, and learn from leading faculty. UF has also made significant investments in artificial intelligence education. AI has been incorporated into more than 230 courses taught by approximately 350 faculty, supported by HiPerGator, which UF describes as the most powerful university-owned supercomputer in the United States. Together, UF’s research enterprise, comprehensive academic portfolio, institutional resources, and ambitious vision create a powerful environment in which the Honors Program can continue to innovate.

Requirements

Hold a terminal degree, Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate, and bring at least 10 years of faculty experience.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrate sustained achievement in teaching, scholarly or creative activity, and professional engagement within their discipline.
Demonstrated administrative experience in higher education.
A deep commitment to undergraduate education and an understanding of the academic, developmental, and experiential needs of high-achieving students.
The ability to articulate and execute a compelling strategic vision for the future of honors education.
A record of innovation in honors education, undergraduate student success, experiential learning, or related areas.
Demonstrated administrative experience overseeing academic programs, operations, policies, resources, and budgets within a complex higher education environment, with the ability to align operational decision with programmatic priorities and institutional goals.
Successful experience supervising, developing, and inspiring employees while creating a positive and high-performing workplace.
The ability to build meaningful partnerships across colleges, academic units, and administrative functions and with external stakeholders, including cultivating relationships that support fundraising and resource development opportunities aligned with programmatic priorities.