FSU: FSU College of Business dean named finalist in FAU's presidential search

Florida State University College of Business Dean Michael Hartline has been named one of the three finalists in Florida Atlantic University's prolonged search for a new president. If Hartline becomes the president, it would mean leaving FSU during its innovative, decade-long project of building Legacy Hall - the business school's future home expected to be complete by August 30 . "I am profoundly honored and grateful to be chosen as a finalist for president of Florida Atlantic University," Hartline said in an email to the Tallahassee Democrat Tuesday. "This is an exceptional opportunity, and I am excited to meet with the Board of Trustees and the entire Florida Atlantic community." Besides Hartline, FAU's presidential search committee announced Sunday the selection of Republican former state Rep. Adam Hasner - now an executive vice president for The Geo Group , a private prison company - and the University of Maine's Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Volin as the two other finalists. The three candidates are expected to conduct public forums on FAU's campus in Boca Raton in early February, where they will also interview with the university's Board of Trustees. Meanwhile, Florida A&M University's presidential search committee kicked off its process after recently holding its first meeting and hopes to have a new president named by this summer. FAU's announcement of final candidates marks the second time that the university has produced a list of finalists for the president's role, which is currently being filled by interim President Stacy Volnick after former President John Kelly's retirement in 2022. The first list of finalists was announced in July 2023, but shortly afterwards the search was halted by the Florida Board of Governors and State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, who cited "concerning information" and "anomalies" in a letter to FAU Board of Trustees Chair Piero Bussani. Following the search's pause was more than a year of political rancor, debates about government-transparency laws and accusations of meddling by state university officials. But as the presidential search moves closer to its end, FAU will announce a schedule for the finalists' visits on campus soon, according to Bussani. "Each of the finalists will conduct public forums on campus before interviewing with the Board of Trustees," Bussani said in a prepared statement. "We are working toward scheduling those public forums for the first week of February and will update the Presidential Search website with the details as soon as possible." More information about each candidate can be found on FAU's Presidential Search webpage . Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_ . This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU dean Michael Hartline revealed as finalist in FAU president search