Pictured Above: A formal search for David Lechner’s successor is yet to be underway.
Courtesy of USF
By Annalise Anderson
The Office of the President announced the retirement of USF Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David Lechner in a press release on May 12. Lechner’s retirement from the university will take effect July 1.
Since his arrival to USF in 2018, Lechner has overseen the university’s operating budget and several university departments. In his role as senior vice president, he managed the Business and Finance, Information Technology, Facilities and Construction Management, Administrative services, University Police, and Human Resources departments.
Lechner came to USF from the University of Nebraska, where he directed business operations for a $2.4 million budget. Before his employment in higher education, Lechner worked 20 years with global financial organization Deloitte.
“I wish to sincerely thank David for his leadership and conscientious approach to overseeing USF’s financial stewardship goals,” President Steve Currall wrote in the press release. “I am grateful for his commitment to the mission and future of the university, especially to our work to support the success of students and opportunities for their upward economic mobility.”
Lechner is grateful for his time at USF and plans to spend his retirement in Nebraska.
“I am so grateful to President Currall, the Board of Trustees, senior leadership, the business and finance team, and the rest of my colleagues for all of kindnesses, courtesies, and opportunities afforded me during my time at USF,” Lechner wrote in an email to The Crow’s Nest.
Beginning July 1, Nick Setteducato will serve as interim vice president and chief operating officer while the search for Lechner’s successor is underway. Setteducato currently serves as interim regional vice chancellor of Administrative and Financial Services on the St. Petersburg campus.
“Nick’s present role in St. Petersburg—where he oversees facilities services, parking services, police services, human resources, campus computing, and purchasing services for the campus—positions him well to serve in the interim role for the university,” Currall wrote.
Lechner is not the only administrator to step down this year. St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock announced in January that he will depart from his administrative role at the end of the year to assume a faculty position with the College of Education. In the same week, Paul Sanberg stepped down from his position as senior vice president of USF Research and Innovation to serve as a professor in USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine.
