Christopher Rufo

Earlier this year, Christopher Rufo was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve on the Board of Trustees at New College of Florida. He also appeared beside the governor during the signing of the state's recent Higher Education overhaul bill.

The board saw a big change in January, when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed six conservative trustees, who quickly fired the college's then president, and appointed former state education commissioner Richard Corcoran.

The Republican-majority Florida Legislature has followed the governor's lead by introducing legislation this year to rein in DEI programs at each of the state's 12 public universities.

It came amid questions from some Democrats about some of the appointees. They still need to be confirmed by the full Senate.

Suzanne Sherman is stepping down as Provost at New College of Florida in Sarasota. She was a faculty member at the small liberal arts school for over 30 years.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has made the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida's public colleges and universities a legislative priority.

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently held a roundtable with his allies in education to talk about efforts to remove diversity, equity and inclusion programs from higher education.

The Republican former state House speaker and education commissioner, who also served on the state Board of Governors that oversees Florida’s university system, was named to the role, in part, by seven new conservative trustees.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability filed a lawsuit in Sarasota County to compel the release of documents.

New conservative board members Christopher Rufo and Eddie Speir got a mixed reaction during their campus visit Wednesday.

Florida GOP Chair and Sarasota state Sen. Joe Gruters said DeSantis' selection of six conservative members to the school's board was "not a takeover," but a "bridge to save New College.”

The smallest school in Florida’s university system, New College of Florida has about 700 students and lists one of its core values as building a “just, diverse, equitable and inclusive community” on campus.