Brogan and former Thrasher aide among chancellor finalists
Former lieutenant governor and education commissioner Frank Brogan just moved one step closer to being the state university system’s next chancellor. Members of the Board of Governors that oversees the 11 state universities just selected Brogan, Florida Atlantic University’s president since 2003, as one of four finalists to be interviewed in Tampa on Friday.
The BOG search committee, during a conference call, also selected FSU associate professor Steve MacNamra, a Capitol veteran who served as former House Speaker John Thrasher's chief of staff. The other two are Roderick Chu, former chancellor for Ohio state university system; and Tom Snyder,
president of Ivy Tech Community College, the nation's largest singly-accredited statewide community college system and the largest institution of higher education in Indiana. The full BOG is expected to name a chancellor Friday afternoon following the interviews.
“This is a very important job, as we all know, and we need to pick the best person for the time and circumstances we face,” said Board of Governors chairwoman Sheila McDevitt.
MacNamara was not one of search consultant William Funk's top three suggested finalists, but BOG members Tico Perez and others urged that he be interviewed.
Of Brogan, Funk said: “He certainly would be eminently well qualified. He understands the political dimensions of Fl, how the Legislature works. I think it’s clear he would be an excellent candidate.”
Brogan, 55, worked as a teacher, principal and superintendent in Martin County schools before he was elected education commissioner in 1994. He ran successfully on the gubernatorial ticket with Jeb Bush in 1998 and served as lieutenant governor until 2003, when he got the FAU job.
Yet again, not a woman in the bunch. Are white males (with political connections) all this state has to offer?
Posted by: Say No To Cronies | July 13, 2009 at 03:36 PM
MacNamara has always been and still is an arrogant plick. So he'd be a perfect fit for being the big head on the top end of the higher educrocracy.
Posted by: whasup | July 13, 2009 at 05:48 PM