TALLAHASSEE, – Longtime business leader Marshall Criser III was formally selected as chancellor of the State University System on Wednesday, putting a fixture of Florida's establishment atop the network of 12 universities.
The Florida Board of Governors voted unanimously to name Criser to the position during a Wednesday afternoon session, with several members touting his work in the private sector and his ties to Florida as assets for the new chancellor.
Recommended Videos
Criser, the son of a former president of the University of Florida and member of the UF board of trustees, was expected to be chosen after a search committee unanimously recommended him to the full board.
"When his name came up, I knew immediately that it was somebody who recognized the value of having a very strong system as well as having very strong individual universities," said board member Norman Tripp.
Criser, the president of AT&T in Florida, brings a history of business and political ties to the position at a time when it has drawn the attention of Gov. Rick Scott on tuition issues and science, technology, engineering and math degrees. Criser has headed up the telecom's presence in Florida since 2005 and has had a role in government relations in Florida for AT&T or its state predecessor, BellSouth, off and on since 1989.
He is also a former chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as chairman of the Florida Council of 100.
"I believe that our state has laid the foundation to be the leader in academic quality, access for Florida?s students, and accountability to ensure the value of investing in Florida?s future," Criser said in a statement following the vote.
Criser, who is set to take office Jan. 6, will replace former Chancellor Frank Brogan, who resigned earlier this year to take a similar position in Pennsylvania.
Board members voted to allow search committee Chairman Mori Hosseini to negotiate a contract with Criser as long as the compensation would not exceed the price tag of Brogan's agreement. Brogan's salary was $357,000.
Scott issued a statement praising the selection.
"Marshall?s background of job creation will provide the vision needed in enhancing our universities? effectiveness in preparing our students for great careers," he said.
Criser has so far given limited insights into his thinking on the major issues confronting higher education in Florida. When asked about tuition during an interview with the search committee last week, he highlighted concerns about affordability and underscored competition from private schools and new, online institutions while alluding to the idea of potentially charging different tuition rates for different programs.
"I believe that more funding for higher education in general, from whatever sources it can come from, is necessary in Florida," he said.