Senate committee advances block of trustee confirmations for state colleges and universities

The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education recommended confirmation of a block of trustee appointees to the boards of multiple state colleges and universities after hearing brief statements from nominees. The committee adopted a motion to recommend confirmation of appointees listed in tabs 3 through 24 and called the roll; the clerk reported the block favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee.

A number of nominees provided brief sworn testimony about their qualifications and priorities. Sarah Bayless (Tallahassee State College) discussed college-readiness and advising work with first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Chad Mizell (University of South Florida nominee) described government and private-sector legal experience and said he would focus on student success, fiscal responsibility and community partnerships. Michael Alan Mayo (University of North Florida) referenced his healthcare leadership and nursing-education work and addressed committee concerns about NCLEX pass rates, noting a provost plan approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. David Kerner (Palm Beach State) described long ties to the college system and public service experience.

Other nominees appearing and sworn included Edward Curtis (College of the Florida Keys), Steven Bunch (Hillsborough State), Peter Batty (College of the Florida Keys), Fred Vekola (Florida International University), Urban Meyer (New College of Florida), Jack Harrell III (Florida Poly/Polytech) and Christine Bassett (Florida Polytech), among others. Committee members were given the option to pull individual names for separate votes but declined; Senator Bracey Davis moved the block recommendation and the clerk called the roll, after which the slate was reported favorably.

What happens next: the committee’s recommendation sends the nominees to the Ethics and Elections Committee for final confirmation action in the Senate. The hearing record includes nominee statements referenced above; the committee did not record individual vote tallies for each appointee in the transcript.