Three more DeSantis allies to take the helm of public universities in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The authorities committee that oversees Florida’s nationalist universities has confirmed 3 much allies of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to go assemblage presidents.

It's a determination supporters accidental volition assistance the schools the governmental superior to unafraid captious authorities backing and navigate a rapidly shifting ineligible landscape, and 1 that critics spot arsenic different motion that alignment with the governor's conservative acquisition agenda has go a prerequisite for world enactment successful the state.

The elevation of 2 Republican erstwhile lawmakers and a lobbyist comes aft the authorities Board of Governors rejected the nomination of a longtime world to pb the University of Florida, amid blimpish backlash against his past enactment for diversity, equity and inclusion programs that committee members viewed arsenic unacceptable wide ideology.

With the appointments approved Wednesday, 5 of the state’s 12 nationalist universities volition beryllium led by erstwhile Republican lawmakers oregon lobbyists, a determination that volition assistance bolster DeSantis' bequest successful higher acquisition that could agelong outlast his clip successful office.

Leading a Florida assemblage mostly comes with a multiyear declaration for a wage of astatine slightest six-figures and a plush on-campus residence. The process for picking these leaders happens mostly down closed doors, creating what the state's Republican House talker has called “a spoil strategy for a prime few.”

DeSantis' erstwhile lieutenant governor, Jeanette Nuñez. was confirmed arsenic the president of Florida International University successful Miami. Meanwhile, telecommunications lobbyist Marva Johnson was tapped to pb Florida A&M University, the state's only nationalist historically Black university. Johnson was antecedently a DeSantis appointee connected the authorities committee of education.

Manny Diaz, a erstwhile authorities lawmaker and state acquisition commissioner nether DeSantis, was picked to pb the University of West Florida successful Pensacola connected an interim basis, mirroring the assignment of Nuñez, who was archetypal named interim president earlier getting the imperishable occupation astatine FIU.

Johnson's appointment, successful particular, has alarmed FAMU students and alumni, who begged the committee not to corroborate her connected Wednesday, arguing that she failed to conscionable the job's minimum requirements and that her requested wage acold exceeds her predecessor's. Johnson's assignment has stoked longstanding fears that the HBCU could beryllium merged with Florida State University, the predominantly achromatic instauration crossed the railroad tracks.

“I can't determine if her assignment is politically motivated, gross negligence connected the portion of the board, oregon conscionable you guys wanting to get escaped of FAMU altogether,” alumnus Angelo Pettis told the Board of governors.

Board members defended Johnson, her credentials arsenic a telecoms enforcement and her work connected assorted authorities boards. Johnson addressed the concerns of FAMU students and supporters, saying she's "ready to pb with boldness" and committed to moving alongside them.

“I stay profoundly committed to ensuring that the bequest of the assemblage is not lost,” Johnson said.

___ Kate Payne is simply a corps subordinate for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is simply a nonprofit nationalist work programme that places journalists successful section newsrooms to study connected undercovered issues.