Florida Board of Governors

09/15/2011

PRESS RELEASE: Florida Board of Governors makes appointments to two university Boards of Trustees

Appointments made for new members at FIU, UNF
**Each university also has a press release being sent with more details. For more information, contact Joanna Norris at UNF, jnorris@unf.edu or Maydel Santana-Bravo at FIU, santanam@fiu.edu.**

The Trustee Nominating Committee of the Florida Board of Governors put forward – and the Board of Governors ratified and approved – two appointments to two universities’ Boards of Trustees on Thursday – one at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, and one to Florida International University in Miami.

Each one of the 11 institutions in the State University System has a 13-member Board of Trustees responsible for cost-effective policy, and for implementing and maintaining high-quality education programs consistent with the institution’s mission. The Boards of Trustees also develop processes to meet state policy, budgeting and education standards.

“The role of a university trustee is unique, as balancing institutional needs with those of the broader State University System can be a difficult task. I congratulate our new trustees, and I salute their commitment to excellence for our public universities in Florida,” said Morteza “Mori” Hosseini of Daytona Beach, who is Chair of the Trustee Nominating Committee.

Each applicant had a rigorous interview process with at least two members of the Board of Governors from the Trustee Nominating Committee. Each appointee also completes an intensive orientation with the Board of Governors once appointed.

The Florida Board of Governors’ appointments are separate from appointments also made to university Boards of Trustees by the Governor of Florida. A university’s student body president or a designee also serves as a standing member of the Boards of Trustees – as does a faculty member, selected by peers.

The appointees are listed below, and their completed applications are posted on the Board of Governors’ web site, www.flbog.edu, at the Board meeting materials posted for the Trustee Nominating Committee.

These appointments conclude the Board’s appointments in this cycle. The next cycle of Board of Governors appointments to trustee boards will be in 2014.

University of North Florida (1 vacancy)

Fred Franklin, Jr., a Jacksonville attorney who serves as managing director of Rogers Towers, P.A., and is a member of the firm’s litigation department. From 1995-97, Franklin served as general counsel for the City of Jacksonville and its independent agencies, including the Duval County School Board and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University and his law degree from the University of Florida.

Florida International University (1 vacancy)

Gerald Grant, Jr., of Palmetto Bay, is the vice president and branch director of corporate and individual financial planning for AXA Advisors. A native of Jamaica, Grant is a past president of the FIU Alumni Association. He has previously served on the foundation boards of directors at FIU and Florida A&M University. He serves on the advisory board for FIU’s Honors College. He is a member of the 100 Black Men of South Florida and holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from FIU.

About the State University System of Florida
The State University System of Florida is governed by a 17-member Board of Governors, a constitutional body and led by appointed public servants. The System is comprised of 11 institutions with a total enrollment of more than 320,000 students, making it the fourth-largest public university system in the nation in terms of enrollment (some states have more than one university system). The Florida Constitution (Article IX, Section 7) was amended by the state's voters in 2002 to establish a statewide system of governance for all Florida public universities. As a result, the Florida Board of Governors was created in 2003 to oversee the State University System of Florida. Responsibilities include defining the distinctive mission of each institution and ensuring the well-planned coordination and operation of the System. The Board’s 17 members include 14 appointed by the Governor, with three serving by virtue of their designations (a faculty member, a Florida Student Association student representative, and the Florida Commissioner of Education). The Board of Governors appoints a Chancellor who serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the State University System. For more, including the Board’s Annual Report that reflects accountability measurements and benchmarks occurring at each institution, see www.flbog.edu.