Due to his administrative success and academic background, Whittaker was named a finalist for the position of Iowa State University president in 2017. He eventually withdrew from consideration in order to keep his “momentum moving forward at the University of Central Florida.” The following year, Whittaker proceeded John Hitt to become the fifth President of the University of Central Florida. However, he only served in this role for 236 days after coming under investigation for knowledge of “misuse or planned misuse of nearly $85 million in operating funds for construction.”

Whittaker joined the faculty of agriculture engineering at Texas A&M University in 1987 before leaving to join his Alma Mater Purdue University in 2002. He joined Purdue as their associate dean of the School of Agriculture and director of academic programs. In 2010, he was promoted to their Vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs, although he left four years later to become the provost of the University of Central Florida (UCF). Prior to the completion of his first year at UCF, Whittaker was promoted to provost and executive vice president.

A. Dale Whittaker (born August 13, 1961) is an American academic who was the fifth President of the University of Central Florida. He succeeded former President John Hitt in 2018, only to resign in 236 days after coming under investigation for knowledge of “misuse or planned misuse of nearly $85 million in operating funds for construction.”

Whittaker was born on August 13, 1961, in Kewanee, Illinois. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University before attending Purdue University for his Master’s degree and PhD. After earning his Master’s degree, Whittaker was hired at Texas Instruments for their Artifical Intelligence development group where he was awarded a USDA National Needs Fellowship for post-secondary education.