Rhea Law

Christian Hardigree most recently served as the founding dean of the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

The appointment still needs the approval of the state's Board of Governors, which is slated to meet June 29-30 in Orlando.

The four will participate in town halls on the USF St. Petersburg campus on Monday and Tuesday.

The Florida Board of Governors confirmed Rhea Law in a unanimous vote.

Rhea Law, a Tampa lawyer who previously served as chair of USF's Board of Trustees, is the first alum to lead the university.

Finalists Rhea Law and Jeffrey Talley will meet with the USF community on all three campuses a day before they're interviewed by the university's Board of Trustees.

The two candidates were thoroughly questioned as they offered different visions for the future of USF.

Interim president Rhea Law, who was asked to consider taking over as USF's next president, is a finalist along with retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Talley.

Law joins at least 11 other candidates who have already applied to succeed Steven Currall.

The university's president called for people on-campus to wear masks and to be fully vaccinated, while USF faculty recommended holding the first few weeks of the spring semester online.

The study analyzes USF's role in enhancing the growth in the Tampa Bay region and the state of Florida.

Ralph Wilcox, who has been with USF for nearly 20 years, has served as provost since 2008.