Governor Ron DeSantis appoints three members to the UF Board of Trustees
Governor Ron DeSantis recently appointed Morteza “Mori” Hosseini, James “Bill” Heavener and Fred Ridley to the University of Florida Board of Trustees, subject to approval by the Florida Senate.
Mori Hosseini has served on the UF Board of Trustees as chair and prior to that was a former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida. He is Chairman and CEO of ICI Homes and also serves as chairman of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Board of Trustees and serves on the Board of Directors for Enterprise Florida and Space Florida.
Bill Heavener has been a member of the UF Board of Trustees since 2013 and is the Co-Chairman and CEO of Full Sail University. He is a Legacy Director and formerly served as President of the University of Florida Gator Boosters and was a recipient of the 2018 Golden Gators Lifetime Philanthropist Award. Heavener is also involved with the University of Florida Alumni Association, University of Florida Foundation, University of Florida Warrington College of Business Advisory Council.
Fred Ridley is a partner at the law firm Foley & Lardner LLP specializing in real estate and corporate transactions. He is currently a member of the firm’s transactions practice group and formerly chaired the firm’s national real estate practice group. In addition, Ridley won the 1975 United States Amateur Championship and has served as Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters Tournament since 2017.
UF’s 13-member Board of Trustees is charged with oversight of the university and consists of six members appointed by the governor and five members appointed by the Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System of Florida. The chair of UF’s faculty senate and the president of the student body also serve as voting members on the Board of Trustees. Board of Trustees members serve staggered, five-year terms. Appointed members must be confirmed by the Florida Senate and are required to attend an orientation session held by the Board of Governors.