Florida International University (FIU) and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) have appointed political allies of Governor Ron DeSantis as their interim and next presidents, respectively. These appointments have sparked widespread concern about the erosion of academic integrity and the increasing politicization of Florida's public universities.
Starting February 17, Florida International University, South Florida's largest public, four-year university, will be led by Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez. Nunez, a senior Republican politician and former healthcare lobbyist and legislator from Miami-Dade County, lacks significant academic credentials. Despite this, she is expected to see her state salary increase for $135,000 as Lt. Governor to more than $1 million annually as interim president of 56,000 student FIU.
The appointment of Nunez came without a formal search process, raising concerns about transparency and the influence of Governor DeSantis. Board Chairman Rogelio Tovar confirmed that the appointment was a direct request from DeSantis' office. "The governor's office has contacted me and suggested we consider Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez as the next leader of FIU," Tovar said on Friday.
FIU's current president, Kenneth Jessell, who has received stellar evaluations from his board, will remain at the university in a new role Chief Administrative Officer. This move is part of a broader pattern by DeSantis to install political allies in key positions within Florida's public universities, raising questions about the future of academic independence and integrity.
Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic University has named Adam Hasner, a former Republican lawmaker and executive at the GEO Group, a for-profit prison company, as its next president. Hasner, who served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010, was selected despite concerns from students and faculty about his past political rhetoric and lack of experience in higher education administration.
Hasner's appointment follows a tumultuous presidential search that began in January 2023 and was scuttled in July 2023 due to concerns about process anomalies raised by State University System chancellor Ray Rodrigues, another Republican former lawmaker. State officials later determined that FAU violated Florida Sunshine laws by anonymously ranking candidates to thin the applicant pool.
Despite opposition from students, faculty, and others at a series of forums, FAU's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to hire Hasner. The other finalists, Michael Hartline, dean of the Florida State University College of Business, and John Volin, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Maine, faced less resistance but ultimately did not secure the position.
Nunez’s and Haser's appointment comes as DeSantis and his allies have taken numerous steps in recent years to reshape higher education in the state. It also comes after a series of former Republican lawmakers have been chosen for leadership positions in the education system.
That has included former Sen. Ray Rodrigues becoming chancellor of the university system; former Sen. Manny Diaz Jr. becoming state education commissioner; former House Speaker Richard Corcoran becoming president of New College of Florida; former Rep. Mel Ponder becoming president of Northwest Florida State College; former Rep. Tommy Gregory becoming president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota; former Rep. Fred Hawkins becoming president of South Florida State College, and Torey Alston, who recently became president at Broward College.
Alston mostly recently a former appointed (by DeSantis) member of the Broward County School Board, whom voters ousted from the School Board last August, two years after his installation. Prior to the School Board DeSantis had appointed Alston to the Broward County Commission in November 2021.
These appointments reflect a broader trend by Governor DeSantis to exert control over Florida's public universities by placing political allies in leadership roles. Critics argue that this approach undermines the academic mission of these institutions and threatens to erode their credibility.
"These appointments show the governor's disdain for academia," said one faculty member at FIU. "After years of fighting the perception that universities are too 'woke' and liberal, DeSantis is now ensuring that his enemies in higher education are pushed out and that only one ideology will prevail."
As FAMU prepares to begin its presidential search in the coming weeks, there is growing apprehension about whether DeSantis and his allies have already predetermined the outcome. The pattern of political appointments raises serious questions about the future of academic freedom and the integrity of Florida's higher education system.