Guest AuthorI am frequently asked, “why do you favor John Thrasher for president of FSU?”
“Don’t you have your PhD?” “You are so involved in higher education, what makes you support him?”
The questions never seem to end — but the answers are easy.
I know John Thrasher well. He is focused, smart, driven to success, and pretty humble. When I interviewed him for a book, I had to constantly ask him to reveal more about his own actions. He preferred to credit his team, staff, others who paved the way, Gov. Jeb Bush, anyone but himself. He is a team player of the first order.
I am an FSU alum, who earned three degrees there. I serve as president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, but this opinion is mine alone, not that of our association.
My family has deep connections to FSU. We have eight degrees within our immediate household, with our extended family having more degrees. We were engaged as students, have been donors for years and are members of the President’s Club, Alumni Association and Varsity Club.
My father-in-law, Bill Armstrong, and his brother, Charlie Armstrong, were part of the earliest football coaching staff, coming to FSU as part of Don Veller’s original coaching staff. Uncle Charlie started the baseball program. The future of FSU means a lot to us.
It means much to John Thrasher too. He has deep roots and an abiding love for FSU. The prior president, who is now President of Penn State, made it clear that his career goal was always to lead Penn State. John Thrasher’s head and heart are with FSU.
I have served at the state level in two states on issues of higher education. I have interacted closely with presidents of scores of institutions. Being president of a university is a tough job, requiring many skills, wit, charm and patience.
There are four main skills needed to lead an institution:
— how to use political power to benefit the school;
— how to raise money;
— knowledge of education issues and experience in higher education;
— a commitment to the institution.
I do not want someone who comes to FSU as a stepping stone. I want someone who has the skills and commitment to make the university prosper. That commitment trumps all. It drives fund raising, management and government relations needed to make FSU better.
John would not view his appointment as just another stop along a life’s journey. FSU would be his favored destination. It would be a place where he could help build the future, working to enhance programs, expand options, secure funding for research, and raise FSU higher in national rankings.
We need leaders who care about Florida and its institutions. John Thrasher does.
I once asked him why, after being Speaker of the House and a statewide leader for so many years, he spent time serving on his local school board. “Well Ed, I think I can make a difference,” he said. Given the opportunity, John Thrasher has always made a difference wherever he served.
Ed H. Moore, President of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, writes and lives in Tallahassee. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
