St. Petersburg College President Carl M. Kuttler, Jr., announced Tuesday he will retire in the near future. The announcement was made to members of the college Board of Trustees at their regular monthly meeting. SPC faculty and staff were notified immediately after the meeting.

Kuttler, 69, has been president since 1978 and is one of the longest-serving college or university presidents in Florida.

During his tenure, the college has gone from a two-year junior college to a four-year state college which offers more than 20 baccalaureate degrees. More than 100 baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered through the college’s University Partnership Center.

In addition, the college has expanded from two campuses to 10 learning sites and has one of the most highly acclaimed distance learning programs in the nation. The college owns and operates two museums (the Leepa-Rattner Museum in Tarpon Springs and the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg) as well as the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg. SPC recently expanded its Downtown Center to include office space for the Florida Orchestra, and office space and a theater for American Stage.

Over the years, Kuttler has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being named the top community college president in the nation in 1998 by the Association of Community College Trustees.  He has worked alongside many foreign dignitaries, including former Russian President Vladimir Putin, for the advancement of world peace and post secondary education. He currently serves as Honorary Consul to the Russian Federation.

St. Petersburg College, founded in 1927, is one of the largest state colleges in Florida, serving more than 60,000 students annually. The college’s Board of Trustees will select Kuttler’s successor.