UF names vice president, arts and sciences dean

March 10, 2015

The University of Florida today announced the appointments of Michael V. McKee as vice president and chief financial officer and David E. Richardson as dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Both appointments become effective Friday.

Both McKee and Richardson have held their positions on an interim basis since June.

Formerly a professor and chairman in the chemistry department and associate dean for research, Richardson became senior associate dean of the college – UF’s largest – in 2009, overseeing faculty and administrative issues including tenure, promotion, hiring and budgeting.

“Dr. Richardson’s depth and breadth of management experience, his vision for the future, and his deep appreciation of the sciences, social sciences and humanities make him an ideal candidate to lead the college,” said Provost Joe Glover, UF’s senior vice president for academic affairs.

After a nationwide search for the dean position, a committee of faculty, students, administrators and an alumnus chose 11 candidates for interviews, then selected four finalists from the candidate pool. Three of the finalists opted to continue with the process, coming to campus to interview with the search committee and attend sessions with students and faculty.

“I deeply appreciate the opportunity I have been given to work with my colleagues and the students of the University of Florida as it achieves a place among the top institutions in the nation,” Richardson said. “UF Preeminence requires a preeminent College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and I will do all I can to contribute to that mission in the years ahead.”

Richardson received a doctorate in chemistry from Stanford University in 1981. His research has focused on physical inorganic chemistry. He was a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University before coming to UF in 1983.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ 700-plus faculty members teach much of the university's core curriculum to at least 35,000 students each year. The college offers 42 majors and minors ranging from African American studies to zoology.

Michael McKee previously served as assistant vice president and university controller beginning in 2003. He also served 19 years on the staff of the State Auditor General and 4 ½ years as director for the Administrative Services Department for the St. Johns River Water Management District.

A search to fill the position was launched last summer and led to four candidates being interviewed, although none was hired. McKee subsequently applied for the position and underwent the same process as the search candidates, meeting with the search committee, vice presidents, deans, the provost and the president.

McKee is a UF graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business administration majoring in accounting; a certified public accountant; a certified government financial manager; and serves on the Research and Doctoral Committee of the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers.

“I am excited and honored to be able to continue to contribute to my alma mater in these new areas of responsibility,” McKee said. “I welcome the opportunity to participate with the faculty, students, staff and university leaders in continuing UF’s climb to the next level.”