UNF Board of Trustees appoints Pamela Chally as interim president
The University of North Florida Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to appoint Pamela Chally as the University’s interim president. Chally will begin her term on September 18, with the appointment subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors at its next meeting Aug. 31- Sept. 1.
Chally, who was recommended for the position by UNF Board of Trustees Chair Kevin Hyde, has been with UNF for 28 years, most recently serving as the interim provost and vice president of academic affairs from 2017 to 2019. She was previously the dean and a professor of nursing in UNF’s Brooks College of Health and has a doctorate in nursing from Georgia State University, a master’s in nursing from Emory University and a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
“Dr. Chally has had a long and distinguished career at the University of North Florida, serving UNF with excellence since she arrived on campus back in 1993,” said Hyde. “I am very grateful that Pam is willing to take on the role of interim president, and the board is confident in her ability to lead UNF while the search is completed for the University’s next president.”
“It’s an honor to be named UNF’s interim president. I’m confident our amazing and hard-working team of faculty and staff will continue the University’s relentless pursuit of student success,” said Chally. “The University’s momentum has never been greater, and I look forward to building on its strong foundation.”
Chally has worked tirelessly and successfully as an academic administrator and nursing faculty member during her long and distinguished career. During her tenure as dean, Chally raised over $30 million in support of the Brooks College of Health, increased enrollment by over 20%, and added three new doctoral programs (nursing, nutrition and physical therapy).
As the interim provost, Chally integrated Student Affairs into the Academic Affairs Division, coordinated teams to improve student success rates, and improved state performance metrics by 34%. A respected academic and researcher, Chally has also been published in a wide variety of prominent journals on vital subjects, including ethics in nursing and eating disorders.
In addition to her work at UNF, Chally has been an active leader in the Jacksonville community for several decades serving on multiple boards and advisory councils, including the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, Baptist Health System, Brooks Rehabilitation and Ronald McDonald House. Chally has been honored by many local and state organizations, most recently as a Women with Heart Honoree by Volunteers in Medicine Jacksonville in 2018.
In the coming weeks, the Board of Trustees will meet again to discuss next steps in the search process for UNF’s next president.