The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met on Thursday for a Senate confirmation hearing to discuss appointments for different boards of trustees members across the state’s university system.
During the committee meeting, appointees were asked about their universities’ initiatives and their goals for joining or rejoining the university’s board of trustees.
The floor opened with Nicole Washington, a current Florida A&M University Board of Trustees member. Washington started her journey as a higher education BOT member in 2016 when she was first appointed to FAMU’s BOT. She also served on the BOT for Miami-Dade College in 2020, in addition to still serving at FAMU.
In her opening statement, Washington said that once she got to FAMU in 2011, she knew that the “FAMUly” was real and realized how important the community was.
“Our students are impressive, our faculty are passionate, our administration works diligently to ensure a culture of excellence with caring, and that’s why I want to continue to serve on this board,” she told the committee.
Washington added that she has three goals for her next term as a BOT member: continue to improve, focus on metrics and continue legislative investments in higher education and to champion student success.
She currently serves as the chair for the board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee, where her main goal is to ensure students have the support they need to be ready for their next steps.
“I enjoy every opportunity to talk about the great work happening at FAMU. I’m excited they voted to advance my confirmation and look forward to continuing to work with my board colleagues, leadership and students on the highest of seven hills,” Washington told The Famuan.
Though Washington’s hearing went smoothly, other candidates faced tough questions from committee members.
Thomas Zachary Smith, a first-time Pensacola State College appointee, was asked by Democratic Senator Carlos Smith about his thoughts on Project 2025. He is a senior legal fellow at the right-leaning Heritage Foundation.
In 2023, The Heritage Foundation published Project 2025, an ultra-conservative political agenda that became associated with President Trump during his 2024 campaign.
“I think it is important to understand what Project 2025 is and what it is not. Project 2025 is obviously a set of policy proposals that were drafted before a nominee of the president was selected by either party, and I think you can see in Project 2025 is self-centered at times,” Smith told the committee.
“I think it is important to clarify; the second point I will make is in my role as trustee of Pensacola State Cogelle, I will be speaking only for myself; my duty as a trustee is to serve what is in the best interest of the students, faculty and staff of Pensacola State and our area,” he added.
Paul Bailey, Christopher Young and Gates Garcia, three appointees for the University of West Florida’s board, were questioned on past controversial statements from former Trustees Chair Scott Yenor.
Yenor’s statements included saying the LGBTQ+ community has brought “dreaded diseases,” called women “medicated, meddlesome, and quarrelsome,” and made posts on X implying that only non-Jewish white men are viable political leaders. As of Wednesday, Yenor has resigned from his position on UWF’s BOT.
Sen. Smith and Sen. Jennifer Bradley asked the three appointees to explain their votes for Yenor, but all three said they were not aware of his comments and reassured the committee that they would not have voted for him if they had been aware.
Seven appointees were voted for in a block vote, receiving all “yays” to be recommended and confirmed favorably. The three appointees for UWF were voted on individually so the committee could give their statements on each person.
Though some concerns came back from their connection with Yenor, they were also voted favorably with six “yays” and one no. Committee Chair Gayle Harrell vowed that the Senate would closely watch the UWF BOT.
The next step for the 10 appointees is a hearing with the Ethics and Elections Committee before the final vote on the Senate floor. All 16 appointees were not able to go, so a continued confirmation hearing has been rescheduled for next week.