\u201cWhen Texas A&M University-Victoria offered me this opportunity, I couldn\u2019t pass it up,\u201d Hardigree shared in an email Oct. 10 announcing her resignation. \u201cBut please know that this decision was not made lightly. You have become like family to me, and I will never forget the people I have met here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In her message, Hardigree recounted USF St. Petersburg\u2019s accomplishments, reflecting on the campus\u2019 developments in research efforts and the expansion of academic programs that marked her time as the second regional chancellor since 2022.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
USF President Rhea Law touted Hardigree\u2019s contributions in a consecutive university-wide email the same day, announcing the leadership update and noting that efforts to find an interim regional chancellor for USF St. Petersburg would shortly commence.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSince joining USF St. Petersburg in 2022, Chancellor Hardigree has been a steady leader, quickly forming connections with the local community and serving as an advocate for our students, faculty and staff,\u201d Law said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hardigree\u2019s aspiration for university presidency became apparent last spring after Murray State University declared her one of four finalists for its 15th presidential search, alerting USF students to her potential resignation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Texas A&M outlined Hardigree\u2019s accolades, noting her previous tenures as both founding dean of the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University and founding director at Kennesaw State University\u2019s School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As \u201ca seasoned higher-education leader and attorney\u201d with a juris doctorate and a bachelor\u2019s degree in hotel administration, Hardigree was touted as a highly capable and promising future president.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWith [Hardigree]\u2019s experience and vision, A&M\u2013Victoria will become an even stronger engine of opportunity for South Texas,\u201d said Glenn Hegar, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System in its press release<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n During her time as regional chancellor, Hardigree oversaw various investments in research initiatives such as the Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences Research and Teaching Facility and the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Risk to Resilience Lab.\u00a0<\/p>\n Additionally, Hardigree navigated active natural disaster seasons on the waterside campus, leading measures and post-damage efforts after an onslaught of six hurricanes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hardigree will remain at USF St. Petersburg until Nov. 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Written by: Jasmin Parrado<\/a> on October 14, 2025.
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