Controversy Brews Over Dr. Stuart Bell As UF President
Former University of Alabama president Dr. Stuart Bell was announced earlier this week as the unanimous choice to be the next president of the University of Florida in Gainesville. But his candidacy is getting some pushback from a powerful political force - Florida U.S. Senator Rick Scott.
The Republican former Florida governor is questioning the search process of the University of Florida Presidential Search Advisory Committee in choosing Bell as its sole finalist, as well as other hiring decisions.
The 73-year-old first term senator told Gaineville television station WCJB that his issue is more with the process that Dr. Bell himself. Scott is concerned about the lack of transparency in the process. He says the state law allowing the presidential search process to be conducted secretly is “flawed.”
In Tuscaloosa it was apparently not known that Bell was a candidate to lead UF when he was selected to be the next West Alabama United Way campaign chair.
Bell not only was the UA President but previouly had been the provost and a professor at Louisiana State University, and was the dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Kansas.
It is not just the process being questioned by Scott. He has been joined by other conservatives questioning Bell's selection based on his involvement in expanding diversity initiatives such as the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Alabama. After the legislature ordered all DEI initiatives abolished in state agencies and schools, UA formed a new division called Opportunities, Connections, and Success.
We’re not a state that is out there supporting DEI efforts," Scott told the Gainsville TV station. “I mean, we want everybody in our state to have the opportunity, and we’re a great melting pot... We’re not out there saying, ‘Oh, if you have this background, you get a leg up.”
Scott's concern is in contrast to current Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis , who quickly endorsed Bell for the position after he was announced as the sole finalist on Monday.
Bell's appointment is not final yet. It must go to the UF board of trustees and then he must be confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors.
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