Florida Atlantic University on Monday welcomed former House majority leader Adam Hassner as new president, closing off a presidential search that has been off and off over the past two years, and was sometimes embedded in discord.
The FAU Board voted unanimously to select a former state legislator. Some believed his connection with Congress would bring significant funding to the FAU and strengthen it as a Florida Premier University.
Hasner is the latest in a series of former lawmakers who have become presidents of state universities or universities in recent years.
“Fau is at the turning point today for hopefully greatness,” Councillor Jonathan Satter said Monday afternoon. “Universities need communities, donors, councils, students, advocates who can keep their dreams alive and attract the attention of parents who can bring the university to new limits.
“I’m excited about the potential of Florida Atlantic University under President Hasner,” Sutter said.
And according to Hasner’s plan, he will do good to the promises that led to his appointment, with the intention of securing national funding from Tallahassee.
“I was working in a council representing this community, so I certainly feel I can run on the first day as a university brand ambassador and hit the ground,” he said after being selected. -Telled to the Sentinel.
Consider the candidate
Hasner, a Republican, worked at the State Capitol for eight years from 2010 to 2010. He is an attorney who works as executive vice president of public policy for GEO Group, a Boca Raton-based prison operator. He was selected from other finalists.
The other two finalists were Michael Hartline, dean of the business department at Florida State University and a former search finalist. John Vollin, executive vice president and provost at the University of Maine.
The board asked each candidate a series of interview questions – the challenges and risks they faced in their careers, how they sell FAU to prospective students, donors and lawmakers, and how they could How to make fundraising efforts, and how they support mental health and wellness for students.
Fau’s mission should be “life-changing,” Hasner told the board during an interview.
“Our mission is to have these students attending our university get the opportunity to improve their lives and improve their families’ lives and ultimately to our community, our state. It’s about providing an opportunity to continue making a big impact, and perhaps beyond that,” he said.
The finalists visited the FAU campus last week to meet students, faculty, staff and community members at a series of public forums. The notable issues raised in the forum are how a new president finds a new Provost, what to do about academic freedom, how to attract high school students in South Florida to FAU, how to support and deal with research efforts. It was about doing it. Political intervention and pressure.
During Hustner’s visit last week, he drew opposition from some who expressed concern that it was a positive choice. Nicholas Osteimer, a FAU junior and Democratic campus organizer at FAU College, feels it is a “dishonest” process and choosing a president is “not a coral crown” I felt that it should be a choice.
Hustner responded to criticism on Friday, understanding that “we have a very diverse student population and we have a strong responsibility in moving forward with our academic mission for our students,” and that he has a large number of He said he worked to support the university in a way. .
Some community members believe Hasner is the best candidate for the job, some say in the public comments section of Monday’s Council meeting.
“I represent a lot of large groups of conservative students on campus. As it stands, many of us really worry about our ability to express our views in class and face fellow students. I’m doing that,” said student Nick Koite. President of FAU’s Turning Point USA. “I personally see a lot of progress in regards to conservative voices given the freedom of speaking freely out of the three candidates that other students are very encouraged. I believe it’s not the best solution to this problem.”
A long process
Former FAU President John Kelly resigned in late 2022, and has since been at the helm by interim president Stacey Volnick.
The FAU had previously launched a search for permanent leaders who were caught up in the controversy. Initially, the university nominated three finalists on July 5, 2023, but two days later, the State University System’s Governor’s Committee stopped the search and claimed anomaly.
Some people argued why searches were stagnant at the time. This is because state legislator Randy Fine, who was supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis, was not selected as the finalist. Fine told the Sun Sentinel that the governor’s office was essentially guaranteed to do the job.
A state survey concluded that the FAU has broken many laws related to the open meeting and the process of narrowing down candidates.
The president’s search continued. Later last month, Hasner and two other candidates were revealed as three finalists in the president’s running.
Hasner will become the latest well-known Republican to host state universities. On Friday, the Florida International University Council appointed Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, during Jeanette Nuñez, as interim president of the school.
Tory Alston, who was appointed Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the vacancy on both the Broward County Board and the Broward County Board of Education, was elected president of Broward University.
Ben Sasse, a former US Senator from Nebraska, worked as president of the University of Florida until he resigned last year.
On the FAU public forum, Hasner said he plans to check the partisans at the door. He repeated the feelings Monday afternoon.
“There’s an evolving role for university presidents, especially in the state-funded system of universities, in that they are the best advocates for ensuring state funding,” Hasner said. . “I’m very focused on moving forward with the mission of this facility at Florida Atlantic University. I don’t see this as politically red or politically blue.”
