Politics
House budget makes play to increase veteran teacher pay
The Governor dropped a bomb Wednesday. The new Congressman responds in kind.
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine is pushing back against claims by Gov. Ron DeSantis surrounding a failed push to install Fine as the President of Florida Atlantic University (FAU).
DeSantis said he was trying to get Fine out of Tallahassee and into the FAU job because legislators wanted Fine gone.
But Fine says that the Governor and his staff lobbied him to consider the move to academia.
“Ronald and his team begged me to apply for about six weeks before I agreed to do it. I suspect it was Ronald who was desperate to get me out of Tally,” Fine tells Florida Politics.
DeSantis said Wednesday that Fine “repels” people and that drove him to consider handing him a presidency of a major university in the state.
“They wanted to get him out of the Legislature, so they asked me to put him up for Florida Atlantic President, and I did. And the whole board would’ve rather resigned than make him President,” he said in Ocala Wednesday.
The Governor’s Office said that statement would serve as their response to Fine’s allegation.
There was a time when messaging was more unified.
In 2023, Fine told the Palm Beach Post that the Governor’s Office had encouraged him to apply for the FAU President job. DeSantis told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that Fine would be a “good candidate.” Ultimately, Fine didn’t make the list of finalists.
The gig could have been lucrative for Fine. New President Adam Hasner will make at least $1 million a year.
Florida Polytechnic University President Devin Stephenson has been named a correspondent academician of the Royal European Academy of Doctors (RAED), an international recognition that underscores Stephenson’s significant contributions to academia and leadership.
“It is a profound privilege to be selected as a correspondent academician of the Royal European Academy of Doctors,” Stephenson said. “This acknowledgment is a testament to the remarkable progress we can make as an academic community. I look forward to engaging with colleagues from around the world and contributing to our shared mission of fostering excellence in our fields.”
Founded in 1914, RAED’s primary goal is to research and disseminate knowledge in the health, social, human, experimental, and technological sciences. Among its global ranks of professional standouts are Nobel laureates, former heads of state, and tenured academics specializing in economics, law, medicine, philosophy, physical sciences, and engineering.
“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Stephenson to the Royal Society,” RAED President Alfredo Rocafort said. “His pioneering work is expanding our understanding of the world and continues to drive innovation in both academic research and industry.”
Stephenson’s induction to the century-old institution highlights his work’s global impact and Florida Poly’s growing prominence in academia.
Stephenson will travel to Barcelona, Spain, this May for a formal inauguration ceremony, where he will deliver an address about leadership in education.
“I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with talented teams at institutions that reinforce my passion for education and positive change,” Stephenson said. “I believe that bold, forward-thinking leadership can transform the educational landscape and unlock limitless possibilities for our students. I’m excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at Florida Poly.”
Stephenson has served as President and CEO of multiple higher education institutions and, earlier in his career, held higher education leadership positions such as Vice President, dean of students and program director.
Stephenson was recently awarded the Lifetime Leadership Award by Higher Education Innovation, a national group dedicated to advancing discovery and success in higher education. He has also received leadership recognition from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College’s Board of Trustees, and the University of Alabama College of Education, among others.
“Although I am appreciative of these recognitions, the accolades should shine squarely on the teams I have had the opportunity to build at numerous institutions,” Stephenson said. “I believe in a ‘we’ rather than ‘me’ philosophy of leadership that makes the most impact.”
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