University of Florida is a major, public, comprehensive, land-grant, research university. The state's oldest, largest and most comprehensive university, it is among the nation's most academically diverse public universities. University of Florida has a long history of established programs in international education, research and service. It was founded in 1853 and is based in Gainesville, Florida.

Higher Education

University of Florida

Victoria Zorbas

Margaret Gaylord

Mr. Zalupski is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dream Finders Homes and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 2021 upon completion of an IPO (Nasdaq: “DFH”).

Patrick O. Zalupski

Amy Marder

Nancy Paton is the Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing at the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida). Nancy has over 25 years of experience in communications and marketing, including serving as the Vice President for Communications at the [University at Buffalo](/org/university-at-buffalo). In this role, Nancy led the university’s communications, marketing and brand strategy. Nancy also served on the university’s cabinet and directly oversaw the University Communications division of 41 professionals. 

Nancy has a proven track record in reputation and issues management, media relations, digital and social media communications, content marketing, advertising, and creative services. Nancy is an expert in brand strategy and has led the implementation of multiple organizational-wide marketing and communications strategic plans. 

Under Nancy’s leadership, the [University at Buffalo](/org/university-at-buffalo) established and launched the first comprehensive brand strategy in its 172-year history. Nancy is a highly respected communications and marketing professional who is passionate about their work and committed to their team’s success.

Nancy Paton earned a Master's Degree in Management from [Purdue University](/org/purdue-university) and a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media Communications/Journalism from The University of Akron.

Some of their coworkers include David R. Nelson - SVP Health Affairs, President [UF Health](/org/uf-health), Charles E. Lane - SVP & COO, and Joe Glover - Provost & SVP, Academic Affairs. Nancy Paton reports to W. Kent Fuchs, President.

Nancy Paton

Mark Kaplan is the Vice President of Government and Community Relations at the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida). Mark previously served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy from June 2014 to April 2019. Prior to that, they worked for [The Mosaic Company](/org/the-mosaic-company) from January 2007 to January 2018 in various positions, including SVP of Public Affairs and VP of Phosphate Services. In their role at [The Mosaic Company](/org/the-mosaic-company), they were responsible for a full range of reputation and brand matters, overseeing crisis and issues management, public policy and government and regulatory affairs, internal and external communications, and corporate social responsibility. Mark was also responsible for various operational areas in the phosphates business unit, consisting of multiple surface mines, chemical manufacturing plants, and related facilities.

Mark Kaplan has a BA in Political Science from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) and a JD from the Florida State University College of Law. Mark has also completed executive education programs in Corporate Social Responsibility and Agribusiness at [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school).

Mark Kaplan works with Joe Glover - Provost & SVP, Academic Affairs, Elias G. Eldayrie - VP, Chief Information Officer, and David Norton - VP, Research. Mark Kaplan reports to W. Kent Fuchs, President.

Mark Kaplan

Sean Hudson

Yi Wu

Samantha Rhoads

Mori Hosseini is the Chairman and CEO of ICI Homes, one of Florida’s largest residential homebuilder/developers. Born in Iran, Mr. Hosseini was educated in London, England, where he received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Chelsea College of Aeronautical Engineering. He then attended [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University](/org/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university) where he received both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Studies and Master of Business Administration.

Mr. Hosseini founded ICI Homes in 1980. Consistently ranked by Builder Magazine among the nation’s Top 100 homebuilders, ICI Homes has built thousands of homes and created some of the largest master development communities in Florida, markets including the counties of Volusia (corporate office headquarters), Flagler, St. Johns, Duval, Nassau, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, and Brevard. In addition to master development and homebuilding operations, Hosseini is involved in many other enterprises throughout Florida including a lumber company and a title insurance company.

Morteza Hosseini

Dr. Kent Fuchs became the 12th President of the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) in January 2015.  Building on many years of excellence and focused leadership, the university has reached its goal of joining the nation’s top-ten public research universities. 

Dr. Fuchs has since set UF on a path to joining the top-five public research universities and becoming the nation’s number one university for comprehensive excellence. UF is working toward those goals through the creation of 500 new faculty positions, the addition of advanced and beautiful university facilities and an ongoing $3 billion fundraising campaign.

Previous to the UF presidency, Dr. Fuchs was provost of [Cornell University](/org/cornell-university). He has served in academic leadership positions and as a faculty member of electrical and computer engineering at Cornell, Purdue and the University of Illinois. 

He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the [Association for Computing Machinery](/org/association-for-computing-machinery), and has received numerous awards for teaching and research.

President Fuchs earned his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois, and a master of divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. 

Born on an Oklahoma farm in 1954, President Fuchs spent much of his youth in Alaska before moving to Miami, where he graduated from Miami Killian Senior High School.

W. Kent Fuchs

Christopher "Chris" T. Corr is a veteran real estate executive with over 30 years’ experience including some of the highest profile projects in the U.S. Over the course of his career, Chris has held senior leadership roles in four public companies and has led more than 50 master planned residential, commercial and infrastructure projects.  In addition to his business experience, he is a recognized policy leader, as a former legislator and commissioner, and tireless civic leader dedicating service to numerous organizations over the years with missions focused on bettering his beloved State of Florida and beyond. 

Chris is presently Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development at [Rayonier](/org/rayonier) and President of Raydient, Inc., a subsidiary company focused on real estate development primarily in Florida, Georgia and Washington.  [Rayonier](/org/rayonier) (NYSE: RYN) is a leading timberland real estate investment trust (REIT) with approximately 2.7 million acres located in the United States and New Zealand.

Chris presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Council of 100 Inc. (Immediate Past-Chair), [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) Athletic Association Inc. (President of the Board), the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) Development Corporation, the Board of Directors of the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) Inc; and, is Co-founder and director of the Will King Foundation, a not-for-profit organization named in honor of his grandson and dedicated to providing life-saving healthcare to children in need. 

Chris holds a bachelor’s degree from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida).

Christopher T. Corr

Fred Ridley is a business lawyer and a partner in the international law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP, where his practice is focused on the areas of real estate development and finance, and recreational amenity and resort development. He is the former national chair of Foley’s Real Estate Practice, a member of the Hospitality & Leisure and Sports Industry Teams, and a member of the Transactions Practice Group.  He also is a former member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Outside of his professional endeavors, he has enjoyed a distinguished career in amateur golf, including winning the 1975 United States Amateur Championship and is the last U.S. Amateur golf champion never to have turned professional.  He was a member of the UF Gator Golf Team from 1970-1974. He has held several leadership positions in the sport, including serving as president of the United States Golf Association.  In 2006, he was the recipient of the PGA of America’s Distinguished Service Award.  Presently he is Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament.  

Fred received his J.D. degree in 1977 from Stetson University College of Law and his undergraduate degree from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) in 1974.

Fred S. Ridley

Rahul Patel was born in London, England and lived there for 13 years before immigrating to the United States with his family.  Mr. Patel and his wife Swati, a [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) alumna, live in Atlanta, Georgia with their two children – Anyssa and Selena.

Mr. Patel is a partner in the law firm of [King & Spalding](/org/king-spalding) where he has been a mergers & acquisitions lawyer for over 20 years.  [King & Spalding](/org/king-spalding) is an international law firm with over 800 lawyers in 19 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  The firm represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100.  Mr. Patel was elected by the firm’s partnership to serve on its Policy Committee, which serves as the firm’s world-wide governing and management committee.

Mr. Patel regularly serves as lead outside mergers & acquisitions counsel for leading companies, including General Electric Company, [HD Supply](/org/hd-supply-holdings-inc), Roper Industries, SunTrust Banks, and United Parcel Service.  A portion of Mr. Patel’s practice focuses on cross-border transactions, particularly transactions involving Indian companies.  Mr. Patel is ranked by Chambers Global, Chambers U.S.A., and Chambers Asia-Pacific as one of the world’s leading M&A lawyers.

Mr. Patel received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) where he was the Outstanding Male Graduate from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  Mr. Patel received his law degree from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida), with honors.  He is the past President of the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) National Alumni Association and the past President of the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) College of Law Alumni Council.  Mr. Patel has been inducted into the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) Hall of Fame and was one of three [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) Law School alumni given the inaugural Outstanding Young Alumnus Award.  He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Crawford & Company (NYSE) and The Westminster Schools.

Rahul Patel

Marsha D. Powers recently retired from Tenet Healthcare Corporation where she served as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer. She previously served as the CEO of Tenet’s Eastern Division, Coastal Region. She was responsible for directing the strategy and operations for 17 acute care hospitals, 5 freestanding emergency rooms, 7 mental health facilities, 2 Level 1 Trauma Centers, 7 rehab centers, 10 outpatient surgery centers and 25 outpatient centers in South Florida, Massachusetts and South Carolina.

A veteran health care executive, Powers has over four decades of experience, including operational responsibility for large and diverse hospital networks.

Prior to joining Tenet, Powers served as a division president of Triad Hospitals, Inc., where she oversaw the operations of 11 hospitals, two ambulatory surgery centers and a physician management organization in Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. She also helped develop two new hospitals and three replacement hospitals and completed four major hospital expansions.

Before working at Triad, Powers served as President of Quorum Health Service's Southeast Region. Her responsibilities included overseeing eight hospitals and three physician practice groups.

Powers holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Sweet Briar College in Virginia, and a master's degree in business administration, specializing in health and hospital administration, from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida). She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and previously served on the board of governors of the Federation of American Hospitals where she received the “Corris Boyd Leadership Award” for her “outstanding leadership, knowledge, experience, energy, wisdom and integrity instrumental in promoting awareness, changing behaviors and empowering others.”  In 2018, Powers was named by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of “100 Great Leaders in Healthcare” and in 2019 as one of the “Women Leaders of Hospitals and Health Systems to Know”.

Marsha D. Powers

James W. Heavener is the CEO of The Heavener Company, through which he holds and manages his interests in education, media production, internet services, real estate franchising, publishing, banks and information technology.

Mr. Heavener is Co-Chairman and CEO of [Full Sail University](/org/full-sail-university), Co-Chairman of LA Film School, LA Recording School, RMCAD (Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design) and Grupo Seven in Brazil. His real estate interests include serving as a Managing Director of ERA Europe, a group of 1,100 European residential real estate offices located in 19 European Union countries, Co-Chairman of ProMarketWeb, Ltd., a European residential MLS, and Co-Chairman and CEO of Silver City Partners of Florida. He is the Co-CEO and Director of Pioneer Technology Group, LLC, a software development company specializing in software solutions for government institutions. He is also a Director for Florida Capital Bank.

In addition to Mr. Heavener’s board responsibilities, he serves as a Director of the Davey O’Brien Foundation. Mr. Heavener serves on the Board of the Tim Tebow Foundation, [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) Alumni Association, The [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) Foundation, is a Legacy Director and past-President of the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) Booster Association, and is also a member of the Harvard Club of Central Florida and New York.

Mr. Heavener holds a BSBA from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) and is a graduate of the [Harvard Business School](/org/harvard-business-school) OPM.

James W. Heavener

Anita Zucker currently serves as the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of South Carolina based global conglomerate, The InterTech Group, Inc. (TIG). As one of the largest private companies in the United States, TIG and its affiliates operate in a diverse group of industries ranging from aerospace and specialty chemicals to real estate and entertainment. In addition to its wholly-owned entities, TIG and its affiliates are substantial investors in a large number of public companies. Publicly disclosed holdings include Delta National Gas, [RGC Resources](/org/rgc-resources), Corning Natural Gas, Fyffes Group, PLC, Span America Medical Products, [Vicon Industries](/org/vicon-industries) and [Circa Enterprises](/org/circa-enterprises). In addition to the publicly reported holdings, TIG and its affiliates hold substantial investments in a diverse portfolio of equity, debt and real estate holdings.

In 2008, Zucker became the first female Governor (Chair) of The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) in HBC’s 338 year history. The $6 Billion HBC had been acquired by TIG in a public-to-private transaction in 2006.

Zucker has been a leader in the Charleston area and South Carolina for numerous organizations. She served as chairperson of the Board of Governors of the School of Business at the [College of Charleston](/org/college-of-charleston); she also served on the Advisory Boards of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Jewish Studies and she served on the board of the Addlestone Hebrew Academy, Porter Gaud and Ashley Hall Schools. Zucker is past chair of the Medical [University of South Carolina](/org/university-of-south-carolina) Foundation Board. Zucker currently serves on the President’s Initiatives Committee of the [University of South Carolina](/org/university-of-south-carolina).

Zucker has served as president of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Education Foundation. She is a former member and past chairperson of the Trident Technical College Foundation Board and Executive Board and serves on the Trident Technical College Governing Board.

Zucker is the recipient of numerous awards including the “Order of the Palmetto” presented by South Carolina Governor David Beasley for her dedication to education and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Florida.

Zucker earned a B.A. in education from the University of Florida and a Master’s of Education from the University of North Florida and holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from Medical [University of South Carolina](/org/university-of-south-carolina), Clemson University, The Citadel, [College of Charleston](/org/college-of-charleston), the [University of South Carolina](/org/university-of-south-carolina) and [Yeshiva University](/org/yeshiva-university).

Anita G. Zucker

Daniel O'Keefe is the co-managing partner of the Orlando office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member and a former Practice Group Leader of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group.

Daniel handles real estate and land use issues, from negotiating loans and government approvals to dealing with regulatory agencies and handling concurrency issues for builders and developers.  He assists residential and commercial developers and home builders with local and national large-scale projects.  Daniel is a former banker and represents financial institutions in loan transactions as well as work out and restructuring transactions.

Having focused on Central Florida real estate for many years, Daniel's knowledge of the region and the industry was recognized by Governor Jeb Bush and Governor Charlie Crist, who appointed Daniel to the board of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.  He was also appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the [South Florida Water Management District](/org/south-florida-water-management-district) in 2011 and was elected chairman in 2013.  In January 2018, Governor Scott appointed Mr. O’Keefe to the University of Florida Board of Trustees.

In his practice, Daniel handles a broad range of development, land use and regulatory issues for large-scale multi-use developments. These include entitlement issues, regulatory and permitting issues with state and federal agencies and school and traffic concurrency matters.  He also counsels hotels, apartments and restaurants through the challenges of financing, acquisitions, joint ventures and development.

Daniel actively supports several business and political groups in the area.  In addition to having served as a board member of the West Orange Political Alliance, a political action committee representing its community, Daniel is an active member of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce. He previously served on the Wekiva River System Advisory Management Committee and on the Board of Directors for the Smart Growth Alliance.

Daniel T. O'Keefe

David Brandon is a fourth generation Floridian and 1981 [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) graduate from the highly regarded Rinker School of Construction Management.  In 1983, he founded Brandon Construction Company of Palm Harbor.  David serves as President and CEO of Brandon Construction Company.

As a state licensed General Contractor for over 37 years, David has been responsible for over 600 projects including high-rise condominiums, office buildings, retail establishments, educational facilities and medical facilities throughout the state.  Luxury homes built by Brandon Construction are among the finest and most energy-efficient in the industry.

Brandon’s expertise in construction, development and fiscal responsibility has served him well in the banking industry.  In 1996, David became an organizing director of Peoples Bank.  The bank was sold to Synovus Bank and he continued to serve as director through 2007.  He went on to serve as director of [Jefferson Bank](/org/jefferson-bank) for ten years until it sold.  He is currently serving as a director of Flagship Bank.

David has a strong community presence, and has been appointed to multiple community boards.  In 1988, David was appointed to the Palm Harbor Community Service Agency to guide in the development of Library and Recreation Services for unincorporated Palm Harbor.  In 1997, Brandon was appointed by the Florida Senate to serve on the Public Schools Construction Study Commission.  The Pinellas County Commission appointed Brandon in 2012 to serve as a Board Member of the Pinellas County Local Planning Agency, (LPA).

Brandon is dedicated to his community and those residing in the Palm Harbor area.  He has served in various leadership roles including President of the Rotary, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Board Chairman of the Suncoast YMCA.

David is passionate about the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida).  During the Florida Tomorrow Campaign Initiative, David served as a member for the College of Design, Construction and Planning Campaign Council to raise funds for the College.  He served on the College of Engineering Structural Wind Mitigation Design Advisory panel and the Rinker School of Construction Management Executive Committee.  He is a Member of the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida)’s Presidents Council at the Gold Level, a Member of the Legacy Society Alumni Association, Life member of the UF Alumni Association, and a member of the Gator Boosters.  Brandon also is a member of the Dean’s Advancement Task Force in the College of Design Construction and Planning.  He serves as Board Chair for the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) Development Corporation and was appointed as a member of the Athletic Association Board of Directors.

David resides in Palm Harbor, Florida with his wife, Dana.  They have three daughters, two son-in-law’s, and three grandchildren.  Brandon is proud to have had one of their daughters become the third generation to graduate from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida).

David L. Brandon

Marsha Mcgriff

Mary Parker

Sameer Ponnaluri

James Connor

George Cranston

Eeshan Bendre

Curtis Reynolds

Edward Jimenez

Richard P. Cole is a managing partner with Cole, Scott & Kissane in Miami. Trustee Cole is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the firm. He is recognized as a Florida Leading Attorney in the areas of personal injury defense law, medical, legal and professional malpractice. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) and his Juris Doctor from the [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida) College of Law where he was ranked sixth in his graduating class. While attending law school, Mr. Cole was Student Body President, Chief Justice of Traffic Court and was named to “Who’s Who Among American College and University Students.” He was also a member of Florida Blue Key.

In addition to litigating cases, Mr. Cole has experience defending professionals in administrative investigations related to their professional licenses. In this capacity, Mr. Cole has represented professionals in front of administrative boards and panels, including the representation of accountants in front of the Probable Cause Panel of the Board of Accountancy.

Mr. Cole is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court; the United States Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals; the United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida; the Supreme Court of Florida; and all local courts within the State of Florida.

Mr. Cole is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated Preeminent attorney. He is a member of the [American Bar Association](/org/american-bar-association), AIDA Reinsurance & Insurance Arbitration Society and The Florida Bar. He is a past Director, Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Dade County Bar Association and a past Delegate to the United States Eleventh Circuit Conference.

He is a past Director of the Dade County Defense Bar Association. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (President, Miami-Dade Chapter 2004) and Senior Life Fellow of ABOTA, American Inns Of Court, the American Arbitration Association, the Legal Malpractice and Medical Malpractice Committees of the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Association of Past Bar Association Presidents of Florida and the Defense Research Institute. He was an Advisory Committee member of the Volunteer Lawyers’ Project for the Southern District of Florida. He was Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Grievance Committee, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida and a Member of the Eleventh Circuit Historical Society. Selected as one of the Top 1.7% of Civil Trial Lawyers in the State of Florida by Florida Trend Magazine (2005-2019); The Best Lawyers in America (2006-2019); Florida Super Lawyers (2006-2019); Lifetime Achievement Selection to America’s Top 100 Attorneys®; and Marquis Who’sWho® Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient (2019-2020).

Mr. Cole’s civic activities include: President, Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Miami; President, 200 Club of Miami; Vice Chairman, Easter Seal Society of Dade County; Chairman, Interim Boundaries Committee for the City of Miami; Pillar, United Way of Dade County; Director and Secretary, Miami Club; Director, Miami City Club; and Executive Committee of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Richard P. Cole

Scott Stricklin

Win Phillips

David Norton

David R. Nelson

D’Andra Mull

Thomas J. Mitchell

Charles E. Lane

Amy M. Hass

Joe Glover

Elias G. Eldayrie

Chris Cowen is the SVP & CFO at [University of Florida](/org/university-of-florida). Chris was previously with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and [Goldman Sachs](/org/goldman-sachs), where they managed the firms' higher education finance practices. Chris has over 28 years of experience in the financial industry.

Chris Cowen has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of California, Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics from The Wharton School. Chris has also completed a USF Corporate Training and Professional Education Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace.

Chris Cowen reports to W. Kent Fuchs, President. Some of their coworkers include David R. Nelson - SVP Health Affairs, President [UF Health](/org/uf-health), Amy M. Hass - VP, General Counsel, and Win Phillips - Executive Chief of Staff.

Chris Cowen

Scott Angle

The current leadership team at University of Florida has a long history of experience in various industries, including education, development, and phosphate services. They have also held various positions in the past, such as president, general counsel, and chief of staff. Additionally, they all have a background in Political Science from the University of Florida.

Leadership Team

About

Team members

Other teams at University of Florida

Board of Directors

CEO and Executive Team

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