Governor Ron DeSantis rolled out a significant wave of administrative appointments on Tuesday, naming 15 individuals to positions ranging from the State University System to Volunteer Florida. The list includes a former state senator, a prominent hospital CEO, and several seasoned attorneys.
The most high-profile changes target the Board of Governors of the State University System, the body responsible for overseeing the operation and management of Florida’s public universities.
Among the four new faces joining the Board of Governors is Keith Perry, the president of Perry Roofing Contractors. Perry is a familiar face in Tallahassee, having previously represented Alachua County in both the Florida Senate and the House of Representatives. Joining him is Nick Sinatra, founder of Sinatra and Company, whose resume includes a stint as an Associate Political Director in the George W. Bush White House.
Attorneys Ashley Lukis of GrayRobinson and Michael Okaty of Foley & Lardner were also appointed to the Board of Governors. DeSantis retained some continuity on the board by reappointing Ashley Bell Barnett, a trustee at Polk State College, and Charles Lydecker, the CEO of Foundation Risk Partners.
University Leadership Updates
The Governor also directed his attention to specific institutions, appointing leadership for both the University of North Florida (UNF) and Florida International University (FIU).
At UNF, the five appointments bring a mix of legal and medical expertise. Michael Mayo, the President and CEO of Baptist Health, joins the board alongside Daniel Skinner, a homicide director for the Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. Andrew Hudson, a Vice President at BlinkRx with past experience in the U.S. DOJ, was also appointed. Current trustees Christopher Lazzara and Allison Korman Shelton were reappointed to their seats.
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In Miami, the FIU Board of Trustees gained Patrick McDowell, a real estate executive with degrees from Stanford and Berkeley. The Governor also reappointed NextEra executive Alan Gonzalez and Yaffa Popack, chair of YMP Real Estate Management, to the board.
Volunteer Florida
Outside of the education sector, the Governor named Savannah Kelly Jefferson to the Florida Commission on Community Service, commonly known as Volunteer Florida. Jefferson currently serves as a director at KPMG and previously worked within the Executive Office of the Governor.
All 15 appointments announced Tuesday require confirmation by the Florida Senate.
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