Florida Atlantic University has appointed Adam Hasner, a former Republican legislator, as its new president, highlighting a trend in Florida’s public universities of selecting individuals with political backgrounds for prominent positions rather than seasoned academic leaders.
The decision by the university’s board of trustees follows a protracted and contentious search process that ultimately led to the dismissal of the initial shortlist of candidates.
This announcement aligns with Governor Ron DeSantis’s efforts to enhance his influence over state educational matters.
Previously, the search for a president was disrupted after a Republican state senator allied with DeSantis was not included as a finalist. Following this setback, FAU resumed its search, leading to the emergence of Hasner, who is currently a vice president at the GEO Group, a private prison company. Hasner, a former majority leader in the Florida House, triumphed over two academic candidates: a dean from Florida State University and the provost of the University of Maine.
Hasner has expressed that his experience representing Palm Beach County in the legislative assembly provides him with a distinct advantage in his new role. He believes that a university president’s primary function is to act as the institution’s “top lobbyist.” He stated, “If you’re coming from the outside and you’re trying to get to know the Florida legislative process or the regulatory process in Florida, it’s going to take somebody years to be able to do that. I can hit the ground running on Day One.”
His selection has raised concerns among certain students and faculty members, who have scrutinized his political affiliations, lack of experience in higher education, and ties to the GEO Group, an entity that could benefit from former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
Florida Atlantic University, which accommodates over 31,000 students, has been without a permanent president since John Kelly’s resignation in December 2022.
Just days before Hasner’s announcement, Florida International University in Miami revealed that it had appointed Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez as its interim president without a public search process.
