Former Law Dean Robert Vischer Named President of University of St. Thomas

Effective January 2023, Robert Vischer was named as the 16th President of St. Thomas University following service as interim president. Vischer served as dean of the University’s law school from 2013-2022, having started as an associate professor of law in 2005.

In announcing his appointment, Dr. Amy Goldman, Chair of the Search Committee stated, “Rob is known as a highly effective relational leader with a strong dedication to the mission of the university and someone who puts the students at the center of every decision and action.” Board Chair Pat Ryan described Rob as a national thought leader and someone whose leadership style is to elevate others and to forge effective working relationships that result in transformative impact, and that he is collaborative and leads others to leverage the mission of the institution.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, prior to his career in academia, Vischer clerked for three federal judges (Judge David Ebel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Joan Gottschall of the Northern District of Illinois, and Judge John Wiese of the Court of Federal Claims), and practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago.

Former FL Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran Appointed Interim President of New College

Governor DeSantis appointed his political ally Richard Corcoran as interim President of New College. The appointment was approved by the state Board of Governors. Corcoran served as the Florida Education Commissioner and former Speaker of the Florida House. Corcoran was appointed following the controversial termination of President Patricia Okker, part of the Governor’s efforts to combat “trendy ideology” on college campuses in Florida. In an interview in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune describes the changes Corcoran plans to make in his new role.

Corcoran first ran for the Florida House of Representatives in 2010 and was re-elected twice. He has been active in many roles in government including serving as a legislative aide to Paul Hawkes, chief of staff to Marco Rubio, and outside counsel to former House speaker Tom Feeney.

A practicing attorney for more than two decades, Corcoran earned his JD from Regent University. He served in the Naval Reserve while a student. In May 2022 when he resigned as Florida’s education commissioner, he started a law firm and a consulting firm.

Eric Braun Appointed as Interim President at Shawnee State University Effective July 1, 2023

Eric Braun, who served as Shawnee States University’s Vice President for Advancement and Enrollment Management has been appointed as interim president effective July 1. 2023. Braun joined Shawnee State University in 2009, serving as Executive Director of Development and then later as Secretary to the Board of Trustees prior to his appointment as VP for Advancement and Enrollment Management in 2016.

Braun, who earned his JD at Wake Forest University, and an Ed.D at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College, was appointed by Governor Kasich to the Ohio Trust Authority, the board that provides oversight for Ohio’s 529 college savings program. He was elected executive chairman of the board from 2015-2018. Prior to joining Shawnee State University, Braun was the managing partner of a statewide North Carolina law firm, Bunch and Braun, PLLC.

Braun joins a growing number of lawyer presidents with prior fundraising experience. As discussed in more detail in May it Please the Campus: Lawyers Leading Higher Education, over the last three decades, the number of lawyer presidents with professional campus-based fundraising experience has increased from three in the 1990s to twelve in the 2000s and to twenty-six in the 2010s. This is not surprising given the pressure on presidents to generate external resources to support the needs and growth of the campus.