A Goodbye to Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock

On behalf of St. Petersburg’s downtown business community, we express our sincere appreciation for the role that USF plays in our community through the St. Petersburg campus. At this time, we are especially grateful for the many contributions of our Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock. It was announced earlier today that Dr. Tadlock plans to move to other responsibilities. While we respect his decision, we are very saddened to see him leave this role. We wanted to take this opportunity to express the respect and gratitude our entire community feels for Dr. Tadlock. 

Since his arrival in St. Petersburg, Dr. Tadlock has been an active and committed member of the larger business community. He is a builder. The Regional Chancellor has worked tirelessly to build bridges between academia and the city. Dr. Tadlock cares for this special place and understands the synergies that come from a close-knit, collaborative relationship between town and gown. He has also been a champion for faculty members who respect his steady, common sense, down-to-earth leadership style. During a time of global challenges, he has worked to build bridges of understanding has been a source of strength and resiliency.  

While he has been a great ally for the business community and faculty, his primary vision has always been about USF students. He has focused on their academic success, mental health, economic challenges and emotional well-being. Dr. Tadlock has managed multiple constituencies and competing needs while steering the St. Petersburg campus towards a stronger future. As a city, we are smarter, more centered and more committed to USF because of his dignified, dedicated influence and vision. 

As USF begins its search for a new Regional Chancellor and a new Regional Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, we hope that leadership will undertake a comprehensive search that includes national candidates. The challenges associated with these critical positions have not become less complex over the past year and drawing from a wide set of candidates will yield leaders with the right skill set and temperament to lead our regional campus. The Partnership supports an open and transparent national search with constructive community participation.  

In coordination with USF, we plan to add our voice as advocates with other political, business and legislative leaders on the importance of this campus to our community and the need for continued exemplary leadership, building on the strong foundation that Dr. Tadlock has laid.  

Although the past year has been tumultuous, we remain enthusiastic and optimistic about our city’s future. We understand the important role higher education and USF will play in shaping our community identity and economic destiny, and we look forward to the future of USF’s St. Petersburg campus. 

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