TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Widely viewed as the leading candidate for the post, powerful Sen. John Thrasher filed his resume and letter of interest Thursday to become president of Florida State University.
The submittal came more than a week after a presidential search committee voted 15-9 to "pause" the search so it could interview only Thrasher, a former House speaker who serves as chairman of Gov. Rick Scott's re-election campaign. The interview is set for June 11.
In the four page letter, Thrasher outlined his "long-term, sustained support" for his alma mater, work to bring legislative dollars for programs such as the FSU College of Medicine and new campus facilities, and a desire to advance the school "through the next critical steps on its way to national prominence."
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"I would strive to take what I have learned during my decades of public service and use those skills and abilities to advance the concerns of my 'new constituents,' the students, staff, faculty and various other stakeholders in the success of our university," Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, wrote.
DOCUMENTS: Thrasher's application cover letter | Thrasher's resume
Thrasher, who earned bachelor's and law degrees from FSU, added that he is "prepared to bring a different perspective about higher education, its roles in society, and how to foster access, affordability, and excellence in education through online learning and other methods."
Search consultant Bill Funk told committee members before they voted May 21 that the "irregular" interview step was needed because Thrasher's "long-shadow" was keeping other qualified candidates from wanting to apply for the job.
Fourteen others have expressed interest in the FSU position, which was vacated April 2 when Eric Barron left for the same post at Penn State University.
Most notable among the other applicants is state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, a Tallahassee Democrat who submitted her resume after Thrasher was invited to be interviewed. Thrasher received a letter of recommendation for the post from former FSU president Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte.
The search committee's decision has sparked outrage from some student groups and faculty, who have pointed to Thrasher's lack of an academic background and his legislative record, which includes voting to largely eliminate teacher tenure.
In his letter, Thrasher noted he is "not a traditional academic," but that he has higher-education experience through his private legal and legislative work, as well as being a past chair of the FSU Board of Trustees.
"I will be committed to academic freedom, faculty governance, and shared governance responsibility as provided in the university constitution just as I was committed to the specific rules of governance in every public position I have ever held," he wrote.
Thrasher added that he would "pledge to support programs" that promote diversity, "placing an emphasis on having a student body, staff, and faculty that represent Florida."
He also said he would work to strengthen ties with Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College.
Thrasher would enter FSU after angering supporters of neighboring FAMU, as he backed a controversial proposal during the recent legislative session that would have moved toward splitting the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Ultimately, lawmakers approved a study of the issue.
Elmira Mangum, president of Florida A&M University, told The News Service of Florida on Wednesday that the collaboration between the universities should be a model for other schools.
"We may have to work on how we do it or improve our collaboration, but I think the idea of having the program … the students want to work together, the faculty want to work together. And it's more efficient," Mangum said. "But we don't get to make the final decision."
The FSU Board of Trustees will get an up or down recommendation from the search committee sometime after the June 11 interview.
Before the recommendation is given, Thrasher is expected to take part in additional interviews with student and faculty groups.