Committee recommends multiple university trustee nominees but records concern and opposition over recent UWF leadership controversy

The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education held confirmation hearings for more than a dozen nominees to boards of trustees for state universities and colleges. Chair Harrell conducted the hearings in person and by Zoom and said the panel would hear in-person nominees first and then Zoom participants.

Nominees who appeared and spoke in person included Nicole Washington (Florida A&M University Board of Trustees), Nicole Patel (University of North Florida, reappointment), Zach (Thomas) Smith (Pensacola State College), Christopher Young (University of West Florida), Gates (R.) Garcia (University of West Florida), and Edward Fleming (Pensacola State College). Additional nominees appeared by Zoom, including Paul Bailey (University of West Florida), Raul Patel (University of Florida, reappointment), Jed Davis (University of Florida), and others; the committee noted more nominees would be scheduled for subsequent hearings.

On the record, several nominees summarized their qualifications and priorities. Nicole Washington told the committee she has served two prior terms on the FAMU board, emphasized student success and data-driven improvements and cited a 4-year graduation rate of 41 percent as a recent milestone. Nicole Patel, vice chair of UNF's board, highlighted UNF's regional retention and economic return and said "for every dollar invested into UNF, 11 dollars is returned to the community." Pensacola appointees described workforce and industry partnerships; Thomas (Zach) Smith highlighted a new aircraft maintenance program supported by industry partners and said private contributions were already flowing to the college. Christopher Young, Gates Garcia, and Paul Bailey presented their ties to the Gulf Coast region, military communities and athletics programs as strengths for University of West Florida trusteeship.

Public comment and committee questioning focused heavily on the recent controversy surrounding a former UWF board chair, Scott Yener, whose public remarks about women and certain groups had already been widely publicized. Multiple senators asked UWF nominees whether they had been aware of and whether they supported those remarks; several nominees responded that they had not been aware of some of the statements and said they would not have supported him had they known. For example, when asked about that vote, Christopher Young said, "If I'd have known those statements were out there there's no way I would have voted for him." Gates Garcia and other nominees said they would work with UWF leadership to strengthen regional ties and support veterans and athletic and academic programs.

The committee voted on two blocks of nominees. First, a block of nominees (Nicole Washington, Nicole Patel, Thomas "Zach" Smith, Andrew Hobbs, Edward Fleming, Raul Patel, and Jed Davis) was moved and reported favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee by voice/roll call. The committee then voted individually on the three UWF nominees the panel chose to take separately. Roll calls recorded in the transcript show Senator Smith voting no on the three UWF nominees while the remaining recorded senators voted to report those nominees favorably to Ethics and Elections.

Why it matters: Confirmations shape governance of public higher-education institutions. The committee's questions and public comment show local stakeholders and senators are attentive to trustees' regional ties, experience in higher education, and positions on equity and inclusion.

What happened on votes (on the record): - A block of nominees was reported favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee (names listed above). The transcript shows the clerk calling the roll and the committee reporting favorably on the so-named individuals. - Christopher Young (UWF) was reported favorably to Ethics and Elections (roll call: Burgess Yes; Kalatiued Yes; Leake Yes; Smith No; Trumbull Yes; Vice Chair Bradley Yes; Chair Harrell Yes). - Paul Bailey (UWF) was reported favorably to Ethics and Elections (same roll-call pattern recorded: Smith No; others Yes). - R. Gates Garcia (UWF) was reported favorably to Ethics and Elections (same roll-call pattern recorded: Smith No; others Yes).

Ending: Chair Harrell said remaining nominees would be scheduled for a future hearing; the committee moved the reported nominees on to Ethics and Elections and adjourned.