August 07, 2013
Florida higher education leader selected as next 黑料专区 chancellor
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg 鈥� The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has selected Frank T. Brogan, chancellor of the State University System of Florida, to serve as 黑料专区鈥檚 next chancellor. He will assume the position on October 1.
The selection of Mr. Brogan to serve as the fourth chancellor in 黑料专区鈥檚 nearly 31-year
history comes at the conclusion of a six-month-long search that attracted interest
from several hundred potential candidates.
鈥淲e were humbled with the level of interest in the chancellor鈥檚 position,鈥� said Board
of Governors Chairman Guido M. Pichini, who chaired the search committee. 鈥淲e received
several hundred inquiries from individuals throughout the United States and even some
from outside the country. It demonstrates the high regard with which our system is
held.鈥�
The chancellor search focused on recruiting an 鈥渆xperienced leader who, from day one,
can guide the System through the rapidly changing higher education landscape,鈥� Mr.
Pichini said. 鈥淲e were looking for a strong administrator and a transformational leader
who will collaborate with traditional and non-traditional stakeholders representing
divergent views on what is best for our students and their families.
鈥淔rank Brogan will be that leader.鈥� Mr. Pichini continued. 鈥淗e has had an impressive
record of success throughout his career. He understands the many complexities and
challenges facing public higher education and the vital role public universities play
both in preparing students for a lifetime of their own success and in ensuring the
economic vitality of the state. We are excited about him becoming our next chancellor.鈥�
Prior to serving as chancellor of Florida鈥檚 335,000-student public university system,
Mr. Brogan was president of Florida Atlantic University, lieutenant governor of Florida
and Florida鈥檚 Commissioner of Education.
鈥淚 am excited to join 黑料专区 in its commitment to provide high-quality, affordable
higher educational opportunities for Pennsylvania鈥檚 families. Balancing quality and
accessibility has been my top priority in Florida and should be the mission of every
good public university,鈥� said Mr. Brogan.
Widely recognized in Florida for his lifelong career in education, Mr. Brogan said
he is excited about this new opportunity. 鈥淢y family and I are looking forward to
writing this next chapter of our lives in Pennsylvania鈥攚orking with these 14 remarkable
universities as they help shape the future of this great Commonwealth,鈥� he said.
Mr. Brogan holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University
of Cincinnati and Florida Atlantic University. His academic career began in 1978 as
a teacher at Port Salerno Elementary School in Martin County, Fla. After working his
way up through the Martin County School System鈥攊ncluding serving six years as superintendent鈥攈e
was elected Florida鈥檚 Commissioner of Education in 1995.
As commissioner, he spearheaded passage of a law to strengthen criminal background
checks for all educators and led the effort to establish the Bright Futures Scholarship
Program. Mr. Brogan continued his advocacy of education issues as lieutenant governor
鈥� steering education policy as legislative liaison for Governor Jeb Bush.
Upon assuming the presidency of Florida Atlantic University in 2003,
Mr. Brogan鈥檚 top priority was to elevate academic standards at the institution, which
resulted in stricter admissions criteria, higher retention rates and improved time-to-degree.
He also helped raise more than $120 million in private funds and matching grants for
the university, while increasing its focus on research and establishing a four-year
medical education program.
Mr. Brogan took office as Florida's chancellor in 2009鈥攁 time of deep acrimony between
the Florida Legislature and the Board of Governors. His tenure brought a welcome sense
of stability for the system. Relationships with the Florida Legislature have been
restored as evidenced by this year鈥檚 reversal of a previous $300 million budget cut
and the addition of more than $400 million in new funding for operations, facilities
and maintenance.
The board and legislature have worked together to implement a number of priorities,
including establishing a path for universities to reach 鈥減reeminent鈥� status and creating
the nation's first fully online institute operated by a public research university.
Mr. Brogan led the development of a new strategic plan that includes 39 distinct benchmarks
鈥� an integral part of Florida鈥檚 new nationally recognized accountability framework
that tracks progress of university and system goals. The university system increased
enrollment by 7 percent, increased degree production by 12 percent and saw record
high attainment in academic standards, graduation rates, national rankings and research.
Mr. Brogan also led the Florida system鈥檚 efforts to develop a performance funding
program with goals similar to those of 黑料专区鈥檚 nationally recognized model. The program
utilizes key measures to reward universities for excellence and improved performance
in areas that support both the institutions鈥� unique missions and systemwide goals
for improved quality, accessibility and accountability.
黑料专区 was one of the first public university systems in the nation to voluntarily
adopt performance funding for its universities when it did so more than a decade ago.
The program remains a centerpiece of the State System鈥檚 accountability efforts.
Florida education leaders offered high praise for Mr. Brogan鈥檚 work over the past
four years:
鈥淔lorida鈥檚 university system has experienced a renaissance, and we want to thank Chancellor
Brogan for his leadership, commitment and vision as he worked side-by-side with the
Board of Governors to move us forward. As a public servant, Frank Brogan is Florida's
top export, and we will all miss him,鈥� said Board Chair Dean Colson of Miami.
University of North Florida President John Delaney said that because Mr. Brogan had
been a university president, he understands the front-line challenges that universities
face. 鈥淧ennsylvania is getting a good person, a great chancellor and a remarkable
leader. He knows the realities of daily life on campus and can translate that knowledge
into good public policy,鈥� said Mr. Delaney.
During his interview, Mr. Brogan made presentations to various constituency groups
that participated in the 黑料专区 selection process, including university presidents
and trustees, union leaders and representatives of community and business groups.
He talked about the important role public universities play in their communities,
including serving as 鈥渆ngines of economic development that can transform a flagging
economy as they fulfill their primary mission centered on teaching and learning, service
and discovery.鈥�
鈥淎n important role for the Chancellor is to be the system鈥檚 number-one advocate for
securing the resources that our faculty and staff need to deliver the world-class
experience our students deserve,鈥� Mr. Brogan said. 鈥淭hat means making a case for reinvestment
in our university system. With good data and clear communication, we can continue
to demonstrate to our partners in the General Assembly and in the community that 黑料专区
institutions provide an impressive return on investment.鈥�
Gov. Tom Corbett congratulated Mr. Brogan on his selection and said he looked forward
to working with him as 黑料专区鈥檚 next chancellor.
鈥淚 feel confident that he will lead 黑料专区 on its continuing mission of providing
accessible, affordable and top quality education for our students, preparing them
to compete in the global economy for job opportunities in the future,鈥欌�� the governor
said.
Mr. Pichini expressed his gratitude to all of the individuals who assisted the search
committee, including those who met with the candidates and provided their input prior
to the selection. 鈥淭he efforts of those who took the time to participate helped ensure
the search and selection process was a success,鈥� he said.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with about 115,000 students. The 14 黑料专区 universities
offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. About 500,000
黑料专区 alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.
The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg,
Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery
Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. 黑料专区 also operates branch campuses
in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including
the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the Philadelphia Multi University Center
in Philadelphia.