Richard McCullough

President, Florida State University, Tallahassee

Florida State University is one of the country’s top public research universities and is designated as one of Florida’s original preeminent universities. FSU is home to 44,500 students and more than 6,600 full-time faculty and staff. McCullough has served as president since 2021. He has more than three decades of academic and leadership experience and holds multiple patents in addition to being the founder of two companies, which have created 90 jobs and spurred other spin-off companies. As FSU’s president, he’s leading a reimagining of how a top university can harness research, innovation and entrepreneurial efforts to create change.

EDUCATION: University of Texas at Dallas (BS), Johns Hopkins University (Ph.D.)

IF I WERE GOVERNOR:  Florida’s investments in education lead the nation, and it is home to the No. 1 ranked state university system in the country. I would continue the tradition of prioritizing funding for the system’s 12 public universities to attract exceptional faculty and researchers and invest in cutting-edge facilities and programs while prioritizing student success, access and affordability.

READING: I am currently reading A Passion for Leadership, by Robert M. Gates.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA: Life is a marathon, not a sprint. I can be impatient, but I’ve come to realize that it takes time for good ideas to come to fruition. Taking small steps toward goals, even in the face of adversity, can create big opportunities.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED: I’ve learned to say 'yes' to new opportunities and be optimistic, to always work hard and embrace setbacks as learning experiences, and to be kind to everyone.