A Message from President Richard McCullough

This message to all faculty and staff has been approved by FSU President Richard McCullough.

Dear Florida State University community,

These first few months as president have been incredibly exciting as I’ve gotten to know so many of you around campus and continued to learn about the amazing work happening at Florida State University. As we continue to move forward together, I am pleased to share a few updates about my senior leadership team.

With the start of the 2022 Legislative Session drawing near, I’ve been spending a lot of time recently with Chief Legislative Affairs Officer Clay Ingram. Thanks to Clay, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of our state’s top elected officials and other key leaders and hold meaningful and productive conversations with them. As now one of my direct reports, Clay is an outstanding asset for this university and I want to acknowledge the important work that he does leading the Office of Governmental Relations.

I’m pleased to announce that I have appointed Marissa Langston to serve as my new Chief of Staff. Marissa will begin immediately and succeeds Liz Hirst, who now assumes full-time responsibilities as Associate Vice President for University Relations.

Marissa previously served as Assistant Dean for Strategic Engagement at the College of Business. I want to thank Dean Michael Hartline for his support in bringing Marissa to the President’s Office.

As Associate Vice President for University Relations, Liz will continue to oversee the Office of University Relations, the Office of University Communications, Marketing and the university’s Opening Nights performing arts series. I want to thank her for serving in a dual role as Chief of Staff and Associate Vice President for University Relations for the past 10 months.

Dennis Schnittker will become the permanent Assistant Vice President for University Communications. Dennis has served in an interim capacity since December, overseeing the university’s central Creative Services, News and Research Communications, Digital Content Production and Social Media units.

And finally, I’m pleased to announce College of Social Work Dean Jim Clark has agreed to chair the national search committee for the university’s next Vice President for Research. Longtime FSU administrator and faculty member Laurel Fulkerson is currently serving as Interim Vice President for Research, and I appreciate her continued service in that role. Laurel recently announced her plans to retire next year after a distinguished career as a professor of classics and administrator.

Thank you for the warm welcome you all have given me and FSU First Lady Dr. Jai Vartikar since our arrival. Together, I know we will continue to build upon Florida State University’s strong foundation as one of the top universities in the nation.

Sincerely,