DeSantis Appoints New Trustees at UWF

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed five conservatives to the University of West Florida's Board of Trustees, including Adam Kissel and Scott Yenor, both affiliated with the Heritage Foundation. This move is seen as part of DeSantis's broader agenda to shift higher education institutions towards conservative values, following a similar overhaul at New College of Florida. Critics have raised concerns about the implications of these appointments, noting that they could undermine academic diversity and freedom. Kissel has a history of filing discrimination complaints regarding university policies, while Yenor has made controversial remarks about feminism and women's roles. The new board members, who are not alumni of UWF and do not reside in the area, must be confirmed by the Florida Senate, where Republicans hold a supermajority. DeSantis's education policies have been characterized by efforts to limit discussions on certain social issues and promote conservative educational frameworks.