Controversial Florida university presidents are slated for inauguration and confirmation

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University of Florida president candidate Ben Sasse
Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., questions Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Final steps in leadership changes at two Florida universities are slated for the first weeks in November, while another school’s president is in line for a potential reappointment.

University of Florida President Ben Sasse is set to be inaugurated as the school’s thirteenth leader on Thursday during a ceremony on campus.

Sasse, a Republican former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, was selected a year ago by the UF Board of Trustees to succeed former president Kent Fuchs.

Sasse’s selection was confirmed by the state university system’s Board of Governors, as required by state law.

Meanwhile, the Board of Governors is scheduled to meet on Nov. 9 for a meeting that will include consideration of the confirmation of Richard Corcoran as the president of New College of Florida.

Corcoran is a Republican former speaker of the Florida House and state education commissioner who has been interim president of the small liberal arts college in Sarasota since February.

The New College trustees earlier this month tapped Corcoran to lead the school on a permanent basis, and the panel last week signed off on a contract that would see Corcoran make up to $1.3 million per year in salary and other benefits.

The Board of Governors during its Nov. 9 meeting also is expected to weigh approval of reappointing Martha Saunders as president of the University of West Florida through the end of 2024.

Saunders has led the Pensacola school since 2017.

©2023 The News Service of Florida

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