FGCU president recommends honorary Doctor of Laws for donor Brian Rist; trustees press for clearer vetting

President Aysegul Timur told the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees on Oct. 23 that she recommends awarding an Honorary Doctor of Laws to local entrepreneur and philanthropist Brian Rist at the university’s fall 2025 commencement. Timur said Rist founded Storm Smart Industries and the Rist Family Foundation and has given “over $5 million” to FGCU since 2001, primarily to the Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship. She described Rist as a supporter of ethical leadership and credited him with helping to fund Lucas Hall and the Rist Family Foundation Institute for Entrepreneurship.

Trustee Richard Eide asked how potential honorees are vetted and whether professional background checks or other processes were used in evaluating candidates. President Timur said the Honorary Degree Selection Committee conducts due diligence and that the university follows an established policy and process for evaluating candidates. Kitty Green, vice president for University Advancement, told trustees that Rist has a donor gift agreement that includes a clause allowing FGCU to remove naming recognition if subsequent information were to harm the university’s reputation.

Trustees discussed whether the Board should review best practices for vetting honorary-degree nominees. Chair Michael Wynn acknowledged the concerns and, with the Board’s concurrence, said the process and possible best-practice enhancements would be considered at a future meeting. The transcript records the recommendation and the discussion but does not record a Board vote on conferring the honorary degree at this meeting.

The recommendation followed the Board’s procedural notice that public comments on agenda items were to be emailed in advance and would be read into the record before any Board votes. No public comments were read on the honorary-degree item during the meeting.