Key facts
- Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed numerous allies to leadership roles in Florida's higher education system.
- Alex Kelly, a former deputy chief of staff and commerce secretary, is a finalist for the presidency of Pensacola State College.
- Marva Johnson, a businesswoman and political ally, was appointed president of Florida A&M University.
- Many appointees reportedly lack prior experience in higher education administration.
- The state university system's board of governors, which confirms appointments, consists of 17 members, 14 of whom are DeSantis appointees.
- Critics argue these appointments politicize the higher education system and advance an ideological agenda.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, nearing the end of his second term, has overseen a significant ideological shift in the state's higher education system, marked by the appointment of numerous loyalists to key leadership positions. Critics contend that these appointments, often lacking prior experience in academic administration, are designed to enforce the governor's "anti-woke" agenda.
Alex Kelly, DeSantis's former deputy chief of staff and Florida commerce secretary, was recently named the sole finalist for the presidency of Pensacola State College. If appointed, his salary is projected to increase from $186,000 to over $353,000 annually, according to the Miami Herald.
DeSantis's tenure has been characterized by what some call "unprecedented attacks" on higher education, including efforts to end campus diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and restrict free speech, though a federal judge struck down some of these measures. A consistent pattern has been the placement of conservative Republican figures in university leadership roles, many without prior administrative experience in higher education.
Notable appointments include former Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez at Florida International University and Marva Johnson, a businesswoman and political ally, as president of Florida A&M University, despite significant opposition from students, faculty, alumni, and board trustees. Several former Republican state representatives and three of DeSantis's former education commissioners have also been appointed to lucrative college presidencies.
These appointments are made by university boards of trustees and confirmed by the state university system's board of governors, a panel largely controlled by DeSantis appointees. Ray Rodrigues, the chancellor of the state system, is also a long-serving Republican politician.
William Johnson, Florida director of PEN America, stated that DeSantis's administration has "made public education an apparatus of the state," noting that the scale and explicit ideological goals behind these appointments differentiate them from previous political influence. He questioned the academic background and understanding of academic freedom among these appointees.
Amanda Phalin, an associate professor at the University of Florida and former faculty representative on the state board of governors, expressed outrage over the rejection of Santa Ono, an experienced academic, as UF president after his past advocacy for DEI initiatives surfaced. Phalin believes that the DeSantis appointees on the board of governors prioritized ideological or personal power over the best interests of the university system.