Preceded by Tom Gustafson Nationality American Succeeded by Eric J. Barron Spouse Virginia Wetherell | Preceded by Sandy D'Alemberte Role Politician Succeeded by Bolley Johnson Name T. Wetherell | |
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Born December 22, 1945 (age 78)
Daytona Beach, Florida ( 1945-12-22 ) Alma mater Florida State University | ||
Education Florida State University | ||
Honey Lake Church Featuring T K Wetherell
Thomas Kent Wetherell (born December 22, 1945) is a former educational administrator and politician. He served as president of Florida State University (FSU) from 2003 through 2009. His salary ranked among the top 10 public university presidents in the U.S.
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Education
Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, Wetherell attended Port Orange Elementary School and Mainland High School. He attended FSU on a football scholarship and played from 1963 to 1967. While at Florida State, Wetherell joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He earned two academic degrees in social studies and education, in 1967 and 1968. In 1974, he received a doctorate in education administration from FSU.
Career
Wetherell served as president of Tallahassee Community College (TCC) from 1995 to 2001; before that, he was president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. During his time as president of TCC, the school saw increased enrollment and a campus expansion. Wetherell also worked at Daytona Beach Community College and Florida Technological University. After he resigned from his post at TCC, Wetherell was a lobbyist for the Southern Strategy Group, where his partners include John Thrasher—an FSU Trustee. The FSU Board of Trustees, including Thrasher, appointed Wetherell to be president on December 18, 2002. Later, one of the members of the Board of Trustees, Lee Hinkle, joined Wetherell's administration as a Vice President for University Relations. In late 2006, he added his voice to efforts by Bernie Machen, president of the University of Florida to bring a play-off to Division I A college football. While President Wetherell is known nationally for his careful attention to and high profile in athletics-related matters, as FSU's President he also endorsed Lawrence G. Abele's idea of "Pathways of Excellence", a major academic initiative to try to hire hundreds of new faculty with a primary research emphasis on science and to help position FSU for future membership in the Association of American Universities.
Controversy
In March 2009, Wetherell made a derogatory comment to a national audience in regards to Samford University. Wetherell was discussing the university in the context of their football program and has since sent a letter of apology to President Andrew Westmoreland.
Politics
Dr. Wetherell, a Democrat, was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1980 to 1992, and Speaker of the House in 1991 and 1992. He received support from The Miami Herald.
Family
Wetherell is married to Virginia B. Wetherell, a former Florida state government official and state legislator, and has three children (one from his first marriage to Peggy Wetherell), two grandchildren, seven dogs, and two ferrets.