Saunders Stepped into a League "Not of her Own"

When Florida Atlantic University President Mary Jane Saunders took the helm on June 7, 2010 she stepped into a league “not of her own.”

The university had just ended a honeymoon era of unprecedented growth and development under the leadership of Frank Brogan from 2003 to 2009.

It took her almost three years but Saunders found out that running a university, at least in Boca Raton, is a whole different set of rules than teaching. The politics is fierce and holding a Ph.D. is not a guarantee that one will be the right leader

To her credit, Saunders accomplished a lot during her brief tenure—more than many university leaders accomplish who have much more experience heading schools. She opened a medical school, she raised lots of money, freshman freshmen applications doubled, and she completed a football stadium, which ultimately became her Achilles’ heel. She also was involved in the community, which was evident in the relationships she forged. In fact, under her watch, FAU had established three signature themes: Marine and Coastal Issues, Biotechnology, and Contemporary Societal Issues.

Maybe I am singing from an entirely different sheet of music, but why would you get rid of someone who has made such strides in such a short time? If she did all this in three years, just imagine what she could have accomplished by the end of her five-year contract in another two years. FAU Board Chairman Anthony Barbar said she was not forced out. But I have covered enough stories like this and have the experience to know that there is more to this story than what we are being told.

Yes, she had her share of negative ink in the press. But that’s expected in a high-profile position at an institution of higher learning. Remember –the college environment is an incubator for student protests. That’s what college students do. Many of the freedoms we enjoy today are credited to students’ demands.

Someone close to the issue, insinuated that Saunders fell on the same sword that she was handed.

Maybe I am wrong, which won’t be the first nor last time, but when The GEO Group, which is headed by George C. Zoley,  a former member and chairman of the Board of Trustees, gave the university $6 million to rename the stadium, they, including the trustees, accepted it.

Those pesky students, who did what they do best – agitate, brought to light a history of alleged human rights abuses against prisoners and immigrant detainees. And they protested.

It became a media frenzy and Saunders was forced to defend the decision with egg on her face.  On some days, she fled to her car following an onslaught of negative chants and derision. She tried to resist them but buckled under pressure.  That’s unwelcomed publicity the prison company didn’t need, forcing them to pull their offer.

Six million dollars is a lot of money to lose. And as the rule should be in corporate America, someone should always be accountable when money is lost or property is damaged, even if it’s the top guy.

Thus, she did the right thing by stepping down.

Many are asking why should she step aside while her staff and even the trustees remain?

As the CEO, she made the decision to accept the $6 million. But I’m sure it was not done in a vacuum. I hope she conferred with trustees before doing so.

Now, she is out of the Eleanor R. Baldwin House and gone are all the perks that comes with the job although she will remain on the faculty as a tenured professor, to create a physician assistant degree program.

Saunders now has to determine whether she was in a league alone or of her own and if she even wants to remain in Boca Raton.