TAMPA, Fla. — Rhea Law used to be a student at the University of South Florida. On Thursday, she will officially become the school’s eighth president.

Law was chosen as USF president by the board of directors last March. However, Thursday marks her official inauguration on campus at the Yuengling Center. 

She earned an undergraduate degree in management from USF, putting herself through school while working as the university research project administrator for the Office of Sponsored Research. She is one of the founding members of the USF Board of Trustees and served on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee for USF’s last two presidential searches.

Law, 72, already has been working quickly on her top priorities as USF’s newest leader.

Her top goal is to hire a new Provost of the university.

USF is currently accepting candidates for its top academic officer and will soon begin interviews. Law also wants USF to become one of the country’s 25 best universities. It is currently ranked 46th.

And finally, work continues to build a new football stadium on campus.

The stadium would anchor a new athletic district that could help attract new student athletes.

Law will be officially inducted as USF president at 1 p.m.