TAMPA, Fla. — This weekend, the head of the University of South Florida presided over her final graduations as president.
What You Need To Know
USF President Rhea Law led her last commencement exercises on Dec. 12-13
During Law’s four-year tenure, she conferred more than 59,000 degrees
Law is the first USF graduate to become USF president
Law’s message to graduates: “You’ve received the education. You have the skillset. Trust yourself. Move forward. Don’t be paralyzed. Whatever the challenge, just move forward.”
USF President Rhea Law announced she was stepping down earlier this year.
“It’s time,” Law said. “I came here with the idea that I would be here for four months, maybe six, and it’s four-and-a-half years later. So it’s time, and I know there’s a new adventure out there for me.”
Law is the first USF graduate to lead the University of South Florida.
“It means a lot,” Law said. “I was a first-generation student, and a lot of the students here are first generation, and that means they’re changing their lives dramatically.”
Between Friday and Saturday, she will hand out degrees to more than 4,000 students.
“It feels bittersweet, obviously,” Law said. “I really love graduations. This is where our students show what they’ve been able to accomplish, and family and friends get to celebrate them as they cross the finish line. So it’s a really exciting time for me.”
Law’s message to graduates: Trust yourself, whatever the challenge. Just move forward.
As for Law, she will lead the university until early next year when the new president takes over. She said she’s not sure what her plans are just yet, but she’s excited about the possibilities.
Law said one thing is certain.
“I’ll never be far away from the university,” she said.