Robert Gilbert, who has served the past six months as University of Florida (UF) interim senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, will serve in a full leadership role for at least another 18 months.
Gilbert has served as University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research dean and interim senior vice president while Scott Angle worked as UF interim provost. Angle, the former head of UF/IFAS, has been appointed as permanent UF provost.
Until Jan. 9, Angle and Gilbert both were serving in dual capacities. Gilbert will now take on the responsibility of leading UF/IFAS through at least mid-2025.
“Ultimately, I’ll measure success in part by the extent to which I gain and maintain the confidence of our teams and stakeholders across Florida,” Gilbert said. “I remain committed to open and honest communication, service, collaboration and investing in our relationships to benefit all.”
As research dean, Gilbert leads an office that provides administrative support for 558 faculty with research appointments statewide. During his tenure as dean, UF/IFAS has significantly increased research expenditures — now at a record $300 million. That’s No. 1 in the nation in research expenditures on agriculture, natural resources and conservation.
UF/IFAS also has seen record fellow nominations for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Gilbert was appointed dean in 2019 after working for four years as chair of the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department. Prior to that, he worked his way up the faculty ranks, breeding sugarcane at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, where he eventually became center director.
Gilbert earned his doctoral degree from Texas A&M in 1996, his master’s degree from the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 1992 and a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in 1985.
Gilbert said he’s confident the immediate leadership transition at UF/IFAS will be smooth. He has worked closely with Angle in the six months since Angle handed him most UF/IFAS leadership responsibilities.
Source: UF/IFAS