FAU names 3 finalists for President; Randy Fine not among them

Image via Florida Atlantic University.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has announced finalists for its next President — and state Rep. Randy Fine was not among them.

The list ends speculation that Fine, a Palm Bay Republican, will abandon a state Senate run and step away from politics.

Instead, university trustees announced three professional academics will be considered for the job: Vice Adm. Sean Buck, U.S. Naval Academy superintendent; Michael Hartline, Florida State University College of Business dean; and Joseph Sartarelli, former University of North Carolina – Wilmington chancellor.

Within the Florida political world, Fine’s absence was the biggest news. The Representative in March told the Palm Beach Post that the Governor’s Office had encouraged him to apply for the FAU President job. Gov. Ron DeSantis has done little to dispel speculation, and told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that Fine would be a “good candidate.”

But it’s unclear if Fine ever applied. He did not answer a question by text from Florida Politics on the matter.

Fine, facing term limits in the Florida House, filed in January to succeed state Sen. Debbie Mayfield, a Rockledge Republican, in Senate District 19. Amid speculation about the FAU job, Fine never ended his state Senate campaign.

Meanwhile, lawyer Robyn Hattaway has also filed for the Republican nomination in the district. Other lawmakers like state Rep. Tyler Sirois, a Merritt Island Republican, have said they will not run for Senate this election cycle.

Democrat Vance Ahrens has also filed for the seat.

As for the presidential search, that will continue following weeks of confidential interviews. A state law passed last year blocks the public disclosure of applicants for public college and university positions until finalists are named.

Of note, other universities and colleges have drawn criticism for failing to consider a wide number of applicants for President jobs.

The University of Florida named U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse as a sole finalist for its presidency before hiring him this year. State Rep. Fred Hawkins just took the job of South Florida State College president after similarly being named the only candidate for the job worth consideration. New trustees at New College of Florida fired a President and immediately hired former House Speaker Richard Corcoran as Interim President without a search.

AGB Search helped FAU trustees narrow down a list of finalists from a pool that included a dozen sitting and former university Presidents, eight executive vice presidents, five provosts and several other vice presidents and deans.

“On behalf of the entire university, I extend heartfelt thanks to the Presidential Search Committee for their phenomenal work,” said Brad Levine, FAU board of trustees Chairperson. “The outstanding quality of the applicant pool that was generated for this position is truly inspiring.”

Buck has led the Naval Academy since 2019 but has come under fire from Republican lawmakers over enforcement of vaccine mandates. A successor has already been nominated.

Hartline has led FSU’s College of Business since 2016, and last year also served as interim vice president for advancement and president of the FSU Foundation.

Sartarelli headed UNC’s Wilmington campus for more than seven years. When he retired last year, the university renamed a building in his honor and praised increased enrollment.