Florida Atlantic University selects former Florida state rep. Adam Hasner as new president
Florida Atlantic University on Monday welcomed former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner as its new president, concluding a presidential search that was off and on over the past two years, and at times became mired in discord.
The FAU Board of Trustees unanimously voted Monday afternoon to select the former state legislator, saying in part it believed his connections with the Legislature will bring crucial funding to FAU, bolstering it as a premier university in Florida.
Hasner is the latest in a string of former lawmakers who’ve become a college or university president in the state in recent years.
“FAU is at a turning point today, hopefully for greatness,” Board of Trustees member Jonathan Satter said Monday afternoon. “The university needs an advocate that can attract the attention of the community of donors, the Legislature, of students, of parents that can keep the dream alive and take the university to new limits.
“I’m excited about the possibilities of Florida Atlantic University under president Hasner.”
Considering candidates
Hasner, a Republican, served in the state House for eight years through 2010, including as majority leader in those last three years in office. He’s a lawyer who works as the executive vice president for a public policy for the GEO Group, a Boca Raton-based prison operator. He was chosen from among other finalists.
The other two finalists were Michael Hartline, a business dean at Florida State University and a finalist from the previous search; and John Volin, an executive vice president and provost at the University of Maine.
The board asked each candidate a set of interview questions — what challenges and risks they’ve faced in their careers, how they would sell FAU to prospective students, donors and legislatures, how they would go about fundraising efforts and how they would support mental health and wellness for students.
FAU’s mission should be “about changing lives,” Hasner told the board during his interview.
“Our mission is about providing opportunities so that these students who are attending our university have the opportunity to improve their lives and improve their families’ lives and then ultimately go on to do things that have a tremendous impact on our community, on our state, and perhaps beyond,” he said.