Wesley Kent Fuchs (/fɒks/; born 1954) is an American university professor and academic administrator. He was the 12th president of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, serving from 2015 to 2023.[1] He previously served as the provost of Cornell University from 2009 through 2014.
Kent Fuchs | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Fuchs at 2017 National Science Board | |
| 12th and 14th President of the University of Florida | |
| Assumed office August 1, 2024 Acting | |
| Preceded by | Ben Sasse |
| In office January 1, 2015 – February 6, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bernie Machen |
| Succeeded by | Ben Sasse |
| 15th Provost of Cornell University | |
| In office January 1, 2009 – November 14, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Carolyn Martin |
| Succeeded by | Michael I. Kotlikoff |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wesley Kent Fuchs November 3, 1954 Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Spouse | Linda Moskeland |
| Education | Duke University (BS) University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (MS, PhD) Trinity International University (MDiv) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Electrical engineering |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Concurrent Error Detection in Vlsi Systems through Structure Encoding (Fault Tolerance, Self-Checking) (1985) |
| Doctoral advisor | Jacob A. Abraham |
In January 2022, Fuchs announced his intention to step down as President so that he may remain at UF and return to faculty. He was succeeded by Ben Sasse, a former United States senator from Nebraska. He returned to the role in an interim capacity on August 1, 2024 until a successor for Sasse, who resigned on July 31, 2024, is named.[2]
Education
editFuchs holds a B.S.E. from Duke University; a M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; and a M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois.[3]
Career
editFuchs was a professor in the electrical and computer engineering department and the coordinated science laboratory at the University of Illinois, from 1985 to 1996. He was head of the school of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University from 1996 to 2002. While at Purdue he was appointed to the Michael J. and Katherine R. Birck distinguished professorship. He was the Joseph Silbert dean of the Cornell University College of Engineering, from 2002 to 2008.
He was the fifteenth provost of Cornell University in October 2008. In 2011, he led in the team and strategy that resulted in the winning proposal, in partnership with the Technion and New York City, to create a new graduate applied sciences campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City.[4] The Cornell Tech campus reported to him as provost.[5] In 2009 Fuchs launched Cornell's re-imagining initiative that resulted in enhanced efficiency in administrative services.[6] As provost, Fuchs was also responsible for transforming Cornell's budget model.[7] In 2010 he led the development of Cornell's Strategic Plan[8] and the establishment of metrics for assessing Cornell's academic stature.[9]
National Science Board
editOn September 16, 2016 President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Fuchs as a member of the National Science Board and National Science Foundation.[10] He is a member of the board’s class of 2016 – 2022.[11]
University of Florida
editAs President of the University of Florida, Fuchs barred three professors from testifying in a voting rights lawsuit against Florida governor Ron DeSantis over Senate Bill 90.[12][13][14] After the university blocked its professors from providing testimony in court, the University of Florida's accreditor started an investigation into the university.[12]
Personal
editFuchs is married to Linda Moskeland Fuchs, who previously taught at The King's Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. They have four children, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law and three grandchildren.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Florida, University of. "President Fuchs - Office of the President - University of Florida". president.ufl.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Kent Fuchs expected to serve as interim UF president after Sasse resignation". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ Fuchs, Wesley Kent (1985). Concurrent Error Detection in VLSI Systems Through Structure Encoding (fault tolerance, self-checking) (Ph.D. thesis). University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. OCLC 14236192. ProQuest 303388985.
- ^ Blumenstyk, Goldie (December 16, 2011). "Cornell U. Is Winner of Competition for NYC Science Campus, as Stanford Pulls Out". The Chronicle of Higher Education. ISSN 0009-5982. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Cornell Tech". Cornell Tech. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Plans to improve operations, cut costs are moving ahead | Cornell Chronicle". www.news.cornell.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Provost outlines university's new budget model | Cornell Chronicle". www.news.cornell.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Cornell University: A Strategic Plan : Strategic Plan". www.cornell.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ "Strategic Metrics". irp.dpb.cornell.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ Fry, Paige. "President Obama plans to appoint President Fuchs". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
- ^ W. Kent Fuchs. Biography National Science Board. Retrieved September 18, 2021
- ^ a b "U. of Florida's Accreditor Will Investigate Denial of Professors' Voting-Rights Testimony". www.chronicle.com. 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ "University of Florida bars faculty from testifying in voting rights lawsuit against DeSantis administration". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ Wines, Michael (October 29, 2021). "Florida Bars State Professors From Testifying in Voting Rights Case". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ Florida, University of. "Office of the President - University of Florida". our12thpresident.ufl.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2016.