‘A Catapult Forward’ — Interim President will listen as he leads

Harris Pastides has been interim president of the University of Tampa for just four days but is already spending his time where he says a leader should: listening to and learning from the campus community.

Pastides sat down Thursday in Falk Theatre for a discussion led by UTampa Vice President of Marketing Lorraine Daignault. In front of faculty and staff, he spoke about his approach, background and future. The event was followed by a meet-and-greet reception with students, faculty and staff. 

He explained why he chose to pause his retirement and come to Tampa, shared his initial impressions and described how he works, along with the classic rock he listens to when he’s not (the Allman Brothers, quite loudly, he said).

Ultimately, it was the University community that sold him on the opportunity to lead here for a time, he said. 

“The people who smile as you pass them. The legacy of how we take care of our students,” he said. “That’s why I’m here.”

Feel free to stop him on campus (for real), he encouraged the staff and faculty. He promised to take heed of concerns, big and small, even when everyone won’t always get what they want. 

“I want to know the good and maybe the things that need work, so I’m delighted and I’m honored that I was invited to come here,” Pastides said. 

Pastides takes the helm at UTampa as a national search is underway for a long-term leader. He was appointed interim president last month, replacing President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, who resigned. Pastides is no stranger to transitional leadership or enduring legacy: he served as president of the University of South Carolina for 11 years, later returning to USC as an interim president for 13 months. 

Pastides grew up in Queens, New York, and is the first in his family to graduate from college. He earned a master’s and Ph.D. in epidemiology from Yale University.  

Higher education has always been a passion, he said. It’s what makes the United States the country it is, with a college and university system that “serves as the beacon of higher education systems across the globe.” UTampa’s independence from the winds of state politics gives it distinct opportunities. 

“Higher education is under pressure, some might say assault,” he said. “That it is too expensive, (students) can't find a job, freedom of expression. What does that mean? The left and the right have different opinions about that.” 

Balancing all that with advancements in career readiness, curriculum improvements and engaging students in campus life is a goal. 

“The University of Tampa allows me to really focus on the educational mission,” he said, noting that he aims to “imbue a sense of ambition and confidence, salute, and move on and leave you to the great work that you do here.” 

When asked about his goals for UTampa, Pastides paused. It would be presumptuous, he said, after 96 hours on campus to prescribe goals.

“I don't have my goals yet,” he said. “I would like to hopefully leave the board and the University with not a blueprint but with a thought plan for how the University of Tampa can be that university on a hill.”

Though the recipe is still being refined, a UTampa “secret sauce” will be key for longevity, Pastides said.  

“We have to have our own formula, our own special sauce,” he said. “We want people saying, ‘I want to go to the University of Tampa, not only because of Tampa, but because of what we offer here.’ I know they do, but I would like to do more of that.”

Other big-picture issues include how to make UTampa more affordable and accessible for students. Pastides said he wants to raise more money for scholarships and find new opportunities for every student to participate in campus life and feel like they belong. 

“To me, that is the secret of a positive college experience,” he said. 

Fortifying the University’s relationship with the city of Tampa is another interest.  

“I’m going to ask, ‘How can we be a better partner,” Pastides said. “What more can we do?’” 

Eva Santos ’28, a pre-med junior and Tampa native, is on board with that. She attended the reception that followed the event for faculty and staff.

“Because Tampa is so central, we really should be more part of the community,” Santos said. “I thought that was fantastic, and then also strengthening our academics and our Honors program, so that we are a stronger competitor.”

Andres Perera ’29 also came to the reception to meet Pastides. He is studying athletic training. Boosting UTampa’s school spirit is his top priority for the new leader, he said. Despite a strong athletic tradition and really good teams, students are not engaged enough, he said. 

“School spirit matters because it creates connection,” he said. “It just gives that extra little bond.”

From one interim leader to another, Robert Beekman, interim dean of the Sykes College of Business, said he is thrilled to have someone of Pastides’ caliber helping to guide the University through what is a key inflection point. 

“It’s like hiring a super-consultant for our University to guide us through and also help us land that next president,” Beekman said. “We’re at a turning point where we can launch off in a lot of different directions, and it’s really both in the College of Business and the University as a whole.”

Caden Raymond ’28, UTampa’s student government president, keyed in on one of the more personal things Pastides is known for with students, and he’s pumped. 

“What I love specifically about Dr. Pastides is that he’s willing to take selfies,” Raymond said. “I really think it touches on his perspective that it should be students first, and that he really cares about the student experience.”

Selfies are “a point of connection,” Raymond said. “It shows community. It shows everything you want in a leader.”

As for Pastides, he’s looking ahead. 

“This was really almost like a catapult forward,” he said at Thursday’s reception. “It was the first opportunity I had to meet and greet and engage with what I would call a cross-section of the University community: staff, faculty, students, alumni, and I’m even more thrilled now.”