Former UF Provost Janie Fouke is one of three candidates vying to become the next president of the University of South Carolina, the university's officials announced Wednesday.
USC's Board of Trustees is scheduled to choose the university's 28th president Friday, said Russ McKinney Jr., USC spokesman.
The other two finalists are Geri Hockfield Malandra, vice chancellor for strategic management for the University of Texas System, and Harris Pastides, USC vice president for research and health sciences.
In a phone interview, Fouke, who served as UF's chief academic officer, said she is not at all daunted by the prospect of becoming the head of a university.
"It's very exciting. The academic portfolio of a university is critical, but it's one piece of a complete university," she said. "It's kind of fun to think of the entire system."
Fouke said there are similarities between UF and USC that would help her contribute to the university. Her experience with managing fiscal challenges when state money is tight makes her a strong candidate, she said. She added that her experience managing UF's "massive" undergraduate program could help USC's research portfolio reach the caliber of top universities.
Fouke, who has served as senior adviser to the president since her resignation as provost, said she wasn't sure what would happen to her one-year commitment with UF's International Center if she got the job, but both universities would cooperate on the timing of her transition.
If chosen, Fouke would oversee all of USC's eight campuses. The university's main campus in Columbia has a student body of about 27,000, McKinney said in a phone interview.
McKinney said the new leader would need to be an "aggressive fundraiser" and would take over Aug. 1, the day after USC's current president, Andrew Sorensen, is scheduled to retire.
A national search with an initial pool of about 80 individuals was launched in spring after Sorensen announced his intentions to retire in December, McKinney said.
A couple of Fouke's colleagues said she is ready to become USC's head honcho.
Angel Kwolek-Folland, interim associate provost for academic affairs, worked with Fouke for 16 months in the provost's office. Kwolek-Folland said she wasn't surprised to hear the news about her former supervisor being considered for USC's top position.
"I think she is well suited to a university presidency, and South Carolina would be fortunate to have her," she said.
Kwolek-Folland said Fouke is a strong candidate because she is knowledgeable about "big-picture" issues affecting higher education. She said she was an energetic and inspiring boss.
"She has a great deal of personal integrity, and I admire that in a leader," she said.
Richard Yost, UF chemistry professor and former chairman of the Faculty Senate, said he thinks it is an appropriate point in Fouke's career to consider taking a presidential position at a university.
"I hope it works out for her to go there," Yost said. "She certainly is a dynamic leader and very passionate about excellence."
