LAKELAND — A North Carolina State administrator is set to become Florida Polytechnic University's first president.
The school announced Monday that its presidential search committee has selected Randy K. Avent, who currently serves as associate vice chancellor of research development at North Carolina State. He is also a professor of computer science and the founding director of the university's Data Science Institute.
Avent is expected to begin as Florida Polytechnic's president this summer. The university's board of trustees will begin contract negotiations immediately. The Florida Board of Governors must then give final approval.
Previously a branch of the University of South Florida, Florida Polytechnic will open this August. Its focus will be science, technology, engineering and math programs.