Machen becomes UF’s 11th president

James Bernard Machen became the 11th president of the University of Florida in January.

Machen, 59, served as president of the University of Utah. Prior to that, he served as University of Michigan provost and vice president for academic affairs and dean of the School of Dentistry. He also served as an assistant and associate dean in the School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Machen attended Vanderbilt University and received his doctor of dental surgery degree from St. Louis University. He received his master’s in pediatric dentistry and a doctorate in educational psychology, both from the University of Iowa. His academic interests include national health policy.

Machen was president of the American Association of Dental Schools and served on the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Committee Board of Trustees. He and his wife Chris have three children.

Machen succeeds Charles Young, who held UF’s top position since 1999.

—Kimberly A. Lopez