The University of Florida Presidential Search Advisory Committee has unanimously recommended Dr. Stuart R. Bell as the sole finalist to become the university’s 14th president, pending approval by the UF Board of Trustees and confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors.
Bell recently completed a decade-long tenure as president of the University of Alabama, where he helped raise the school’s national profile through academic growth, increased enrollment, expanded campus facilities and continued athletic success. During his leadership, Alabama also improved student retention rates and earned prestigious R1 research university status.
The veteran higher education leader also served as president of the Southeastern Conference from 2023 to 2025 and held a seat on the SEC Executive Committee from 2021 to 2025. In those roles, Bell worked with university leaders, lawmakers and the NCAA on issues impacting college athletics nationwide.
Before arriving at Alabama, Bell served as provost and engineering professor at Louisiana State University and previously was dean of engineering at the University of Kansas. Known for his research involving natural gas and combustion engines, Bell was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in 2023.
Bell earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Texas A&M University. He has held leadership positions with several national engineering and academic organizations, including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
Search Committee Chair Rahul Patel praised Bell’s experience and leadership, calling him “the best choice” to guide UF into its next chapter. Patel said Bell’s background leading a flagship university, his fundraising success and his strong relationships throughout higher education and the SEC made him uniquely qualified for the role.
UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini also voiced strong support for the selection, saying Bell’s academic accomplishments and leadership experience make him “the obvious choice” to lead the university forward.
Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban also endorsed Bell, describing him as a passionate supporter of athletics and a leader who made a major impact on the university and the Tuscaloosa community.
Bell said he is honored by the recommendation and eager for the opportunity to lead the University of Florida.
“The University of Florida is a special place,” Bell said. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead this top-tier university and help firmly establish UF among the nation’s top three public universities.”
If approved, Bell would officially succeed interim president Dr. Donald Landry, who served during the 2025-26 academic year while on leave from Columbia University.
