ORLANDO—The Board of Governors Thursday confirmed Dr. Randy K. Avent to be the first leader of the State University System’s newest institution, Florida Polytechnic University.
“The Board is pleased to welcome Dr. Avent to our State University System,” said Board Chair Mori Hosseini. “It is no small challenge to guide Florida’s first polytechnic university. But I have no doubt, with Dr. Avent’s credentials and vision, that Florida Polytechnic University is in good hands.”
“I’m grateful for the Board of Governors’ confirmation and support, and I’m proud to be joining the State University System of Florida, which has a great reputation for excellence nationwide,” said Dr. Randy Avent. “I am already focused 100 percent on opening Florida Polytechnic University in August, and I look forward to working with the faculty and staff and with the Board of Governors to advance STEM education and applied research in the state of Florida.”
Avent is an accomplished academician and administrator. Most recently, he was associate vice chancellor of research development at North Carolina State University. He also acted as a professor of computer science and the founding director of the university’s Data Science Institute.
Avent holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in electric engineering from North Carolina State University and master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in biomedical mathematics and engineering. He is also a graduate of the Boston Executive Program at MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
“The Florida Polytechnic Board of Trustees identified Dr. Avent as their inaugural leader, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the choice,” said Chancellor Marshall Criser III. “He has the State University System’s full confidence and support.”
