John R. Temple, a GOP lawmaker and ally of Governor Ron DeSantis, was named president of Lake-Sumter State College. Temple served as the college's associate vice president for workforce in 2023 and previously worked as a K-12 teacher and administrator. Several Florida state institutions have appointed politically connected figures to executive roles, including Jeanette Nuñez at Florida International University, Marva Johnson at Florida A&M University, and Manny Diaz Jr. as interim at the University of West Florida. At least a dozen executive hires with ties to the Republican Party or DeSantis occurred since 2022, and multiple appointees donated thousands to GOP candidates and causes. North Florida College is considering Mike Prendergast for its presidency, and the University of Florida hired Donald Landry as interim president after the Board of Governors rejected Santa Ono over his prior support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Lake-Sumter State College named GOP lawmaker John R. Temple as its president Thursday, making him the latest politician to helm a state institution, the Orlando Business Journal reported. Temple, an ally of Republican governor Ron DeSantis, breaks with many of his fellow politicians who have become college presidents in that he does have administrative experience in higher education. Temple was hired as the college's associate vice president for workforce in 2023. Previously he was a teacher and administrator in K-12 schools.
Other recent political hires include former lieutenant governor Jeanette Nuñez at Florida International University, lobbyist and DeSantis ally Marva Johnson at Florida A&M University, and former education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. in an interim role at the University of West Florida. Multiple others have been hired across the state college system. A recent analysis by Inside Higher Ed found at least a dozen executive hires with ties to the Republican Party or DeSantis since 2022.
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