Committee advances dozens of trustee confirmations; several nominees face sharp questioning
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Summary
The Senate committee recommended dozens of trustee appointments for state universities and colleges, approving most as a block but pulling several for individual votes. Nominees Ilya Shapiro, Thomas Zachary Smith and Adam Kissel faced extended questioning about past remarks and policy work; each was advanced to the next stage despite some 'No' votes.
The Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee considered and moved dozens of trustee nominations for state universities and colleges, advancing a large block of new appointees and reappointments and hearing several nominees individually after senators pulled them for separate votes.
Chair Harrell read a lengthy list of new appointees across the State University System and state colleges and asked members whether any names should be pulled for separate consideration. The committee approved a large block recommendation to the Ethics and Elections Committee for further consideration.
Multiple nominees who were pulled for separate discussion drew extended scrutiny:
- Ilya Shapiro (Florida Polytechnic University): Sen. Bracey Davis questioned Shapiro about 2022 tweets and past remarks described during questioning as referring to a "lesser black woman." Shapiro said his phrasing was "inartful," denied referring to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson personally, and said he should have written "less qualified" rather than "lesser." He pointed senators to public apologies and longer explanations in his writings and said he had been reinstated after an earlier leave from Georgetown Law; the committee voted to report his reappointment favorably.
- Thomas Zachary Smith (University of West Florida): Smith was pulled from the block amid concerns about ties to the Heritage Foundation and Project 20/25 policy proposals (raised by several senators). Smith said he would serve in his personal capacity as a trustee and described Project 20/25 as a set of policy recommendations rather than direct university governance directives. The committee confirmed Smith despite at least one recorded 'No' vote from Sen. Bracey Davis.
- Adam Kissel (University of West Florida): Senators revisited a prior committee discussion about Kissel's writings on higher education, including reported statements about privatization and a contested characterization that Kissel had called the GI Bill a mistake. Kissel called such characterizations a misrepresentation, said he supports veterans and that critics had misread his writing, and the committee recommended his reappointment (with some dissenting votes).
Other nominees who appeared included trustees for Pensacola State College, Polk State College, St. Petersburg College, University of North Florida, Florida International University, University of West Florida, Valencia College, New College of Florida and more. Several candidates highlighted workforce priorities and NCLEX/nursing pass rates when applicable (examples cited in testimony: Polk State 100% NCLEX pass rate; St. Petersburg College 94%; Chipola College 97%).
Committee debate focused less on institutional budgets and more on nominee backgrounds, ideological concerns, and whether appointees would protect academic standards and campus inclusivity. After votes on pulled nominees, Chair Harrell thanked committee staff and adjourned the hearing.
