Senior Leadership
Thomas Smith, Interim Regional Chancellor & Vice Provost of Academic Affairs
Dr. Thomas Smith was named interim regional chancellor of USF St. Petersburg in November of 2025. He serves as the chief administrative officer, collaborating with university leadership to advance the campus’s mission and strategic goals. He also acts as the public face for the campus to the community and stakeholders.
In addition, Dr. Smith is the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. In this role, he serves as a liaison to the USF Provost’s Office, providing leadership and vision for academic affairs priorities and how that vision is implemented on the St. Petersburg campus. Working with campus deans and stakeholders, Dr. Smith supports the academic units and centers in St. Petersburg, focusing on communication, collaboration, and campus connectivity.
Dr. Smith has been at USF St. Petersburg for more than 25 years. A human rights expert, he has published widely on research interests, including international humanitarian law, Turkish politics, and foreign policy. Dr. Smith is the former Campus Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Dean of the Judy Genshaft Honors College. He is a co-founder of the St. Petersburg Conference on World Affairs, now a flagship event that attracts thousands each year, and previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Holocaust Museum. He earned his undergraduate degree in anthropology from the College of William and Mary and his master's and Ph.D. in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.
Matthew Cimitile, Director of Communications & Marketing
Matthew Cimitile directs University Communications & Marketing for the St. Petersburg
campus, providing strategic vision and management for the department and supporting
executive communications, media relations, emergency communications, news and more.
He has more than 15 years of experience in communications and has worked at USF St.
Petersburg for more than 8 years.
Prior to joining USF St. Petersburg, Matthew worked for both federal and state agencies
developing general communications, targeted messaging to congressional and business
audiences and storytelling around science, natural resources and conservation issues.
He has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Tampa and a master’s
in environmental journalism from Michigan State University.
Cynthia DeLuca, Vice President for Student Success
With 25+ years of experience prior to joining USF in 2014, Dr. DeLuca provides strategic
vision and leadership for the admissions, career services, enrollment management,
wellness, Innovative Education, undergraduate studies and student affairs functions of Student Success. Working closely with her teams on all campuses, she is committed to developing initiatives
to support the academic, professional, and personal growth of all students for success
at USF and in the future.
E. Howard Rutherford, Associate Vice President of Development University Advancement
E. Howard Rutherford joined the USF St. Petersburg campus Advancement Team as Associate Vice President after 3 years with the Office of Gift Planning as Senior Director of Development and after 5 years with the College of Marine Science (CMS) as Director of Development. Rutherford assists in leading the facilitation of gifts across the USF St. Petersburg campus. Before returning to USF, Rutherford had a 13-year tenure as President/CEO with The Pier Aquarium d/b/a Marine Exploration Center.
Rutherford is a collaborative, community leader and has held board leadership positions at the local, state and national levels. His abilities in leadership, strategic implementation and working in complex work environments has helped him to build trust both inside and outside the institutions he has represented.
As founding Co-Chair, Rutherford helped to establish the St. Petersburg Science Festival. Currently, he serves as an advisor to the Science Festival Alliance at MIT, an international organization fostering a professional community dedicated to more and better science and technology festivals. Rutherford is also President of the St. Petersburg Sunrise Rotary Club, Vice President of the Suncoast Estate Planning Council and Second Vice President of USF St. Petersburg campus Town and Gown.
Rutherford holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Chemistry from Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL and attended graduate school at USF's College of Marine Science.
Kevin Sheehy, Regional Vice Chancellor for Administration & Financial Services
Sheehy joined USF St. Petersburg in April 2024. He previously worked at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was most recently Assistant Vice Chancellor of Auxiliary Operations and Finance, a position he held since 2007. In this role, he provided oversight of financial operations, including capital projects, budget creation and reporting of Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services.
Sheehy began his career at United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS), in Pittsburgh, Pa., working his way up from District Automotive Accountant to Finance Supervisor over seven years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and a Master of Business Administration from Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Pa.
As Regional Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance, Sheehy serves as the chief financial and operating officer for USF St. Petersburg. He also provides oversight and leadership to multiple units including Financial Services, Resource Management (Budget Office), Purchasing, Facilities Services, Emergency Management, University Police, Parking & Transportation Services and Campus Computing.
Administrative & Financial Services
Anna Thrombley, Director of Human Resources
Anna Thrombley joined USF St. Petersburg in 2024, bringing with her extensive experience from the University of Florida, where she most recently served as Associate Director of Human Resources for the Information Technology department. Prior to that role, she was Director of Campus Human Resources at UF’s Levin College of Law. Thrombley began her career in the financial sector, holding human resources positions at institutions including Bank OZK, Synovus, and BMO Harris Bank. A Tampa Bay native and proud USF alumna, she is committed to supporting the university community that helped shape her own professional journey.