Robinson has highest ranked Ph.D. alma mater among SUS presidents

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature are both urging the State University System of Florida (SUS) to chase after magazine rankings such as those published by the U.S. News & World Report. Scott’s budget, just like the budgets of the state House and Senate, designates money to help the University of Florida rise in the U.S. News charts.

Florida leaders should know that FAMU holds the distinction of having the president with the highest ranked Ph.D. alma mater in the SUS. This speaks to FAMU’s ability to attract the very best scholars and its potential to become an even stronger research university.  

Interim President Larry Robinson earned his Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis. Wash. U. is #14 in the U.S. News “National University” rankings. It stands ahead of two Ivy League schools: Brown University and Cornell University (which are both tied for #15).

Ever since Robinson joined the FAMU faculty in 1997, he’s brought millions of research dollars into the school.

Here’s where the Ph.D. alma maters of the other SUS leaders rank:

Bernie Machen, president of the University of Florida

D.D.S., St. Louis University (#92); Ph.D., University of Iowa (#72)

Eric J. Barron, president of Florida State

Ph.D., University of Miami (#44)

Judy Genshaft, president of the University of South Florida

Ph.D., Kent State University (Tier 2, rank not published)

John C. Hitt, president of the University of Central Florida

Ph.D., Tulane University (#51)

Mark B. Rosenberg, president of Florida International University

Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh (#58)

Mary Jane Saunders, president of Florida Atlantic University

Ph.D., University of Massachusetts at Amherst (#97)

Judy Bense, president of the University of West Florida

Ph.D., Washington State University (#125)

John Delaney, president of the University of North Florida

No Ph.D.; J.D., University of Florida (#54)

Wilson G. Bradshaw, president of Florida Gulf Coast University

Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh (#58)

Ava Parker, chief operating officer of Florida Polytechnic University

No Ph.D.; J.D., University of Florida (#54)

Donal O’Shea, president, New College of Florida

Ph.D., Queen's College (Canadian institution that is not ranked in U.S. News’ National Universities)

Frank Brogan, chancellor of the State University System of Florida and former president of Florida Atlantic University

No Ph.D.; M.Ed., Florida Atlantic University (Tier 2, rank not published)

Source: 2013 U.S. News & World Report National University Rankings