After a national search and a careful review of candidates, John Weishampel was appointed dean of the UCF College of Graduate Studies on April 30. He has been serving as interim dean since July 2024.

Timothy Letzring, senior vice provost for academic affairs, made the appointment in close consultation with Provost John Buckwalter. The decision was shaped by thoughtful feedback from faculty, staff and other stakeholders throughout the search.

“Dr. Weishampel’s steady leadership as interim dean has created an environment that supports the success of our students, faculty, and staff and strengthens collaboration across the college,” Letzring says. “I am confident that as dean, he will continue to elevate the College of Graduate Studies through innovation, scholarly distinction and a strong commitment to graduate students.”

Weishampel has spent nearly 31 years at UCF, beginning his career as an assistant professor in biology. He has served in a variety of leadership roles, including biology graduate program director, director of interdisciplinary studies and senior associate dean. He has also served as a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) program officer in the Division of Graduate Education. In those roles, his oversight helped elevate UCF’s national profile in graduate education and expand opportunities for interdisciplinary training and research engagement.

Continue reading the original announcement on the UCF website here.