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Originally published on May 15, 2021 5:16 pm
Florida State University’s Presidential Search Committee is advancing three finalists for the job and none are lobbyists, politicians or currently employed with the school.
Heading into Friday and Saturday’s candidate interviews, the search committee received a warning by the school’s accrediting agency that FSU could risk its accreditation if it advanced unqualified candidates or those with conflicts of interest such as Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, who has a spot on the Florida Board of Governors which oversees Florida’s public universities and has final say over university presidents.
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The search committee narrowed its choices to three. There were concerns that the candidacy of Corcoran, Florida's education commissioner, posed a conflict of interest.
FSU eyes candidates to replace Thrasher as president
Members of public express opposition to Corcoran’s bid
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FSU President John Thrasher (Florida State University photo)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Florida State University seeks a successor to retiring President John Thrasher, a committee Friday started interviewing nine finalists for the job as questions swirled about a potential conflict of interest for one high-profile candidate and as a student campaign emerged for another.
The university’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee began a two-day process of interviewing the finalists, a mix of politically connected local candidates and academics from universities throughout the country.
Lawmakers, alumni, school officials back Richard Corcoran for FSU President
More than a dozen lawmakers, school officials and associations have sent letters of recommendation supporting Education Commissioner
Richard Corcoran for Florida State University President.
Corcoran
applied for the job earlier this week and is one of nearly two dozen applicants seeking the position currently held by
John Thrasher, who announced his retirement in September.
Letters obtained by Florida Politics show Corcoran has broad support among those he served alongside during his time in the Legislature, which culminated in a term as House Speaker for the 2017 and 2018 Legislative Sessions. He has also garnered support from alumni, school superintendents and others.