Ben Sasse next UF president?

I don't have any interest in academia at this point in my career. I enjoy litigating too much. I just enjoy teaching and mentoring law students. I figured teaching a class every now and then might be fun. Sounds like it might be better to try and teach one of the compressed courses they offer?

 

if you do litigation being a guest lecturer in the trial practice or trial advocacy classes is where it's at. Bill Davis, who is a judge in Gainesville now (he might have retired), was pretty involved in that program as is a guy name Kevin Robertson. Denise Ferraro, another judge in Gainesville might also be involved. If you are interested you should contact them

 

I think this will be good for the football program. And as far as UF is concerned (I didn’t go there) that’s all I really care about. Shameless but honest.

 

I have an immediate family member, who like Rahul Patel, was instrumental in selecting Ben Sasse. He/she has spent a ton of time with Sasse and has been blown away by his personality and humility.
My family member is a hardcore progressive Democrat. We just got off the phone, and he/she told me Sasse is well-aware of the concerns about his very conservative voting record in an academic setting, and he is adamant that his political beliefs will not interfere with the learning environment at UF. I can also assure you that appeasing DeSantis was not part of selecting Sasse.
My family member and I disagree a bit on whether someone with Sasse’s voting record—excepting his willingness to stand up to Trump—allow him to be considered a “good person.” But I cannot overemphasize how impressed he/she is with Sasse’s humility and willingness to listen and learn.
As for football, he loves football. His dad was a high school football coach, and he coached as well. His wife is a former inner city high school teacher, but unfortunately a huge Bama fan.

Finally, as an aside, our current Prez is no liberal, not personable, and has other issues. Not as bad as Machen, but not someone people are clamoring to hang out with.

 

No doubt and always exceptions. Mine was obviously a generalization but do u disagree that far more Rs have a neg opinion of liberal arts majors than Ds? Btw, I was not a liberal arts majors

 

As previously pointed out by another poster you are incorrect. Mid-high 30s undergrad and easily over 50 total. Look it up.

 

Comment from a fellow Gator fan.

Sasse isn't someone who wants to be in politics forever (hence his quitting the Senate to become UF President). He's "not that type," which (IMO) makes him better than most of those who are, right up front.

Some nuggets:

• Dad was a high school teacher & football coach.
• valedictorian of his HS class.
• Degrees from Harvard, St. John's College & three from Yale (two Masters & a Doctorate).
• Studied at Oxford.
• Worked in the Private sector before politics.
• Worked in the Executive Branch before running for Congress.
• Taught at University of Texas
• President of Midland University at age 37. It wasn't an "easy / secure" job - Midland was having problems ("on the verge of bankruptcy," enrollment was at a historic low). Offered to resign when he decided to run for Senate - Board said "No, take a leave of absence" (he finally stepped down a year later).

He's not a "political lifer," he's someone who spent some time in politics, and is voluntarily walking away from politics to return to academics.

As was previously pointed out, Mitch Daniels - a governor - did it first & did it well.

While I don't know whether Sasse will be good, or not, there's more to the guy than the caricature you'll get from political fanatics.

 

I will reserve outright judgement, but express some concerns:

• Only one finalist is unacceptable. Were there others who bailed, as in what happened at FIU?
• Only one year of teaching college? This seems bizarre.
• Was prez at a small private in Nebraska. In what way is he qualified for this gig?
• He appears to be too young. Some will argue, but when has UF had a prez this guy's age? I fear that he lacks the wisdom necessary to succeed.

Maybe this guy will do a good job, but I few if any indicators for optimism.

 

I’ve found peeps with less academic experience vs. lifelong academics to make better presidents. I’ve found lawyers to be particularly good. Typically the provost handles the academic side & there being an academic is more valuable

 

Are you sure? The website is showing 55k and that's not counting online students. I'm not seeing a clear indicator of undergrad/grad. The headcounts from this site are strangely inflated.
Enrollment – Institutional Planning and Research

 

I see. Thanks

 

Funny, but quite true. Imagine being in a music department. Divaism is real.

 

Interesting take. You don't feel the prez should be more experienced working with faculty types? If what I've read is true, that he only has one year as higher ed faculty, I can't help but be skeptical.

 

Our democracy is in danger!

 

Back in the day I took a trial advocacy course with Justice William Bauer (Seventh Circuit) as our instructor. Talk about an engaging human being. He had fascinating ideas/strategies (some of which would be quite frowned upon in today’s culture), and the anecdotes were innumerable. I won’t ever forget that class. Last I heard the codger is still around. He has to be close to 100 now.

Some years ago the court published an exhaustive interview/biography of him that can be found online. I couldn’t fill a tenth of the material he recounted.

 

So does any pick have to the approval of the governor of Florida at the time?

Maybe I just wasn’t aware, but it feels like there has been more political issues at UF since DeSantis and his meddling.

 

Yes. Any candidate had to meet the approval of the governor, otherwise it would go no where. The Board of Governors is (largely) appointed by the governor and everyone currently on the board has been appointed by DeSantis. There is no candidate that could have even passed initial vetting without the governor's personal approval.

 

just for starters. How about energy,border, and national standing

 

I've heard he's actually a really great guy. Still, I have a couple concerns. A degree from Harvard or Yale (or UF), even a PhD, is no guarantee of intelligence. I'd definitely prefer someone with some STEM experience. Faculty recruitment is already challenging in a charged political environment. Even if he is very reasonable the appearance of a political appointee with liberal arts degrees may hurt us in recruiting the type of grant winners that really advance academic standing.

 

Whether or not that is true practically, legally the Board of Trustees does not need the governor's approval to appoint a university president.