Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to leave office in less than four months, but numerous allies he appointed will remain in influential positions within the state's universities and colleges. This follows what critics have described as an eight-year "anti-woke" effort to reshape higher education in Florida.
The latest appointment is Alex Kelly, the governor's former deputy chief of staff and Florida commerce secretary, who was named last week as the sole finalist for the presidency of Pensacola State College. This makes him at least the 12th close DeSantis ally to secure such a leadership role.
DeSantis's two terms included actions such as a "hostile takeover" of New College and a push to end campus diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which was struck down by a federal judge in July. Many of the conservative Republican appointees to university leadership roles reportedly have no prior experience in higher education administration.
These appointees include Jeanette Nunez, DeSantis’s former lieutenant governor, at Florida International University, and Marva Johnson, a lobbyist and businesswoman, who became president of Florida A&M last year. Several former state representatives and three of DeSantis’s former education commissioners also secured presidencies at state colleges.
All selections were made by university boards of trustees and confirmed by the state university system’s board of governors. Of the board of governors' 17 members, 14 are direct DeSantis appointees.