Pictured Above: Joe Hice has retired from his position as the vice president of University Communications and Marketing effective Jan. 1. He served in that position for three years.
Courtesy of Joe Hice
Joe Hice, vice president of university communications and marketing for USF, has retired after a 40-year marketing and communications career.
USF President Steve Currall emailed USF communications staff on Dec. 23, notifying them of Hice’s retirement – which went into effect on Jan. 1.
For Hice, the COVID-19 pandemic partially contributed to his decision to retire.
“I’ve been (working) for a long time and it’s been a hard time for everybody, not just for me,” Hice said.
Hice also believes allowing a new face to work with the USF administration on its new strategic plan would be beneficial to the university.
“I had an opportunity with the university getting ready to start a new strategic plan,” Hice said. “I just thought it would be a good time for me to step back, let the President bring a new crew in that can not only help finish the plan, but will be around when the plan is done and being implemented.”
Hice said he had a “great” time at USF.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with the university and still think very highly of USF,” Hice said. “The trajectory is just going to continue to rise.”
Hice, who received his bachelor’s at the University of Florida and master’s of business administration at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, has held various marketing and communication positions at several universities and companies.
As the associate vice president of marketing at the University of Florida, Hice spearheaded “The Gator Nation” branding campaign.
As a passionate motorcyclist who has crossed the country on his Harley Davidson, Hice plans on taking a cross-country trip as one of his first acts as a retiree.
“My wife and I are talking about doing a cross-country trip, either by motorcycle or by car,” Hice said.
Carrie O’Brion, director of marketing and communications for USF St. Petersburg, said Hice is “legendary” in his field and that he will be “sorely missed.”
USF President Currall has appointed the assistant vice president for communications and public relations, Kim Hill, as the interim vice president of university communications and marketing in Hice’s place.
