The head of the board of Florida Atlantic University has voluntarily resigned his position as chair 鈥� saying criticisms of his leadership have become a distraction as the school tries to find a new permanent president.
Outgoing Chair Brad Levine made the announcement during the FAU Board of Trustees meeting Thursday morning, saying it was in the best interests of the university for him to step aside.
鈥淭he university is poised to select a permanent president, a search that has been arduous and now must commence anew. Unfortunately, I have personally become a part of this narrative. The selection of an experienced and visionary leader deserves no such distractions,鈥� Levine said.
鈥淚t has been a genuine honor to have served as chairman of this board with colleagues of your caliber.鈥�
READ MORE: State officials order FAU to restart its presidential search
While Levine has bowed out as chair, he says he will remain a member of the board. He was first appointed by Gov. Rick Scott in 2018 and reappointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023.
In Levine鈥檚 place, the Board of Trustees voted to name Piero Bussani as the group鈥檚 next chair. Bussani was first appointed to the board in 2022 by DeSantis. His nomination as chair was approved unanimously.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an enormous honor. One of the greatest honors of my career to be chairman of Florida Atlantic University,鈥� Bussani said. 鈥淭his is a great university. It has done great things. And I'm so excited to continue to move this school forward.鈥�
Bussani has made a career guiding corporations on issues where law and business intersect, according to his university bio. Multiple board members praised his leadership and demeanor, saying he could rely on the support of faculty and state officials.
鈥淚n the amount of time that I have served on this board and served with Trustee Bussani, he has demonstrated the utmost integrity and commitment to the institution in very difficult times,鈥� said Kimberly Dunn, who is a trustee and the president of FAU鈥檚 Faculty Senate.
鈥淥n behalf of the faculty, I feel very confident in supporting Trustee Bussani.鈥�
Levine resigns following no confidence vote by state officials
Levine鈥檚 resignation came weeks after the state board overseeing Florida鈥檚 public universities 鈥� the Board of Governors 鈥� issued a no confidence vote in his leadership overseeing the stalled search for FAU鈥檚 new president.
The search has been roiled by controversy and remains stalled, after state officials raised concerns about 鈥渁苍辞尘补濒颈别蝉鈥� in the process last summer.
Levine had chaired the school鈥檚 presidential search committee, which a state investigator general found violated Florida鈥檚 Government in the Sunshine Law and some state regulations.
State officials voiced concerns about the search after DeSantis鈥� apparent pick for the job 鈥� Republican State Rep. Randy Fine 鈥� was not named as a finalist.
鈥淭he FAU search is a mess. And that鈥檚 a reflection of us, and it鈥檚 a reflection of them,鈥� Board of Governors member Craig Mateer said at the January meeting. 鈥淚 personally believe that Chair Levine should resign.鈥�
On Thursday, Levine did just that. Still, other board members, university donors and some students praised Levine for his leadership on the board.
鈥淵ou have shown a selfless dedication to the institution. And doing so here today at painful personal expense,鈥� said William Trapani, a communications professor at FAU. Trapani has been a frequent critic of what he sees as political interference in the presidential search process.
鈥淚 just want to say thank you,鈥� Trapani told Levine. 鈥淭his university owes you a great debt of gratitude.鈥�
Board extends interim president鈥檚 contract 鈥� again
Also on Thursday, the FAU board voted to extend its employment deal with the interim president for another year 鈥� again.
The do-over vote came after outgoing chair Levine acknowledged that Dr. Stacy Volnick didn鈥檛 have a formal contract from the university, just a 鈥渟ummary termsheet鈥� outlining her employment.
Volnick has led FAU since Jan. 1, 2023, taking on the role as the school looks for a permanent successor to former President John Kelly.
As the delayed search drags on, FAU鈥檚 Board of Trustees opted in November to ink a deal with Volnick to keep her on the job for another year or until a new permanent president is named.
But at a January of the Board of Governors, state officials took issue with the document drafted to extend Volnick鈥檚 employment 鈥� saying it wasn鈥檛 actually a formal contract.
鈥淭here is no contract,鈥� outgoing Chair Brad Levine told the BOG. 鈥淲e only have the summary termsheets that had been approved at the previous Board of Governors meeting. And that was what was provided.鈥�
Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb directed the university to 鈥渇ix it.鈥�
鈥淲e just fix it, ok? And we fix it fast,鈥� Lamb said at the January meeting. 鈥淏ecause I think you deserve that, President Volnick.鈥�
On Thursday, the FAU board did just that, voting to approve an that is 鈥渋n a form requested by the Board of Governors."
The Board of Governors still has to take a final vote on Volnick鈥檚 contract, which is expected to be simply a matter of procedure. Volnick has won widespread support from FAU faculty, donors, trustees and state officials. BOG Chair Brian Lamb raved about her leadership during the meeting in January.
鈥淚 want to be super clear and just cut through the noise,鈥� Lamb told Volnick. 鈥淚 think you鈥檝e done a fantastic job.鈥�
That praise for Volnick was echoed at Thursday鈥檚 meeting of FAU鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
鈥淢y time at this university has been truly remarkable. FAU has given me countless opportunities to grow in my professional career through student government, internships and the diplomacy program to name a few,鈥� said Emma Solorzano, a senior at FAU.
鈥淚 truly love this university and I know that it is in safe hands under [Volnick鈥檚] leadership.鈥�
