W. Kent Fuchs

Wesley Kent Fuchs (; born 1954) is an American electrical engineer who served as the 12th president of the University of Florida from January 2015 to February 2023, and again as interim president from August 2024 to August 2025.

Fuchs served as the 15th provost of Cornell University from January 2009 to November 2014, and as dean of the Cornell University College of Engineering from 2002 to 2008.

Education

Fuchs received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Duke University in North Carolina in 1977, a Master of Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1982, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois in 1984, and a Doctor of Philosophy in electrical and communications engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1985.

Career

Fuchs was a professor in the electrical and computer engineering department and the coordinated science laboratory at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, from 1985 to 1996. He was head of the school of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University from 1996 to 2002. While at Purdue he was appointed to the Michael J. and Katherine R. Birck distinguished professorship.

Cornell University Fuchs was the Joseph Silbert dean of the Cornell University College of Engineering from 2002 to 2008.

In October 2008, Fuchs was appointed the 15th provost of Cornell University. In 2011, he led in the team and strategy that resulted in the winning proposal, in partnership with the Technion and New York City, to create a new graduate applied sciences campus on Roosevelt Island in New York City. The Cornell Tech campus reported to him as provost. In 2009, Fuchs launched Cornell's re-imagining initiative that resulted in enhanced efficiency in administrative services. As provost, Fuchs was also responsible for transforming Cornell's budget model. In 2010, he led the development of Cornell's Strategic Plan and the establishment of metrics for assessing Cornell's academic stature.

University of Florida He served as the 12th president of the University of Florida from 2015 to 2023. As the president of the university, Fuchs barred three professors from testifying in a voting rights lawsuit against Florida governor Ron DeSantis over Senate Bill 90. After the university blocked its professors from providing testimony in court, the University of Florida's accreditor started an investigation into the university.

Social engagement On September 16, 2016, United States president Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Fuchs as a member of the National Science Board and the National Science Foundation. He was a member of the board's class of 2016–2022.

Personal life

Fuchs is married to Linda Moskeland Fuchs, who previously taught at The King's Academy in the city of West Palm Beach, Florida. They have four children, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law and three grandchildren.