T. K. Wetherell
Encyclopedia
Dr. Thomas Kent "T. K." Wetherell (Born December 22, 1945) was an education
al administrator and former 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.
, 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 degree
s in social studies
and education, in 1967 and 1968. In 1974, he received a doctorate
in education administration from FSU.
(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
.
. Wetherell was discussing the university in the context of their football program and has since sent a letter of apology to President Andrew Westmoreland.
, 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
.
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
al administrator and former politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as president of Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
(FSU) from 2003 through 2009. His salary ranked among the top 10 public university presidents in the U.S.
Education
Born in Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, Wetherell attended Port Orange Elementary School and Mainland High School
Mainland High School
Mainland High School is a public high school located in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is attended by 1,979 students of grades nine through twelve. The mascot is a Buccaneer and strongly resembles the old logo of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.-Daytona Public School:...
. He attended FSU on a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
and played from 1963 to 1967. While at Florida State, Wetherell joined the Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
Fraternity. He earned two academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
s in social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
and education, in 1967 and 1968. In 1974, he received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in education administration from FSU.
Career
Wetherell served as president of Tallahassee Community CollegeTallahassee Community College
Tallahassee Community College is a community college, located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. The institution was founded in 1966 by the Florida Legislature. The college is a member of the Florida College System....
(TCC) from 1995 to 2001; before that, he was president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
The Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida is an association of 28 private, educational institutions in the state of Florida. Like the 11 public colleges and universities in Florida, all ICUF schools are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The current President...
. During his time as president of TCC, the school saw increased enrollment and a campus expansion. Wetherell also worked at Daytona Beach Community College
Daytona Beach Community College
- External links :* *...
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
Bernie Machen
James Bernard "Bernie" Machen is an American university professor and administrator. Machen is a native of Mississippi, and earned multiple academic degrees before becoming a university administrator and president...
, president of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
to bring a play-off to Division I A college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. 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
Lawrence G. Abele
Lawrence G. Abele is an American academic in the Department of Biological Science and is the current Provost at Florida State University. He is a Distinguished University Professor at FSU, and he was appointed to the Provost position in 1994....
'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
Association of American Universities
The Association of American Universities is an organization of leading research universities devoted to maintaining a strong system of academic research and education...
.
Controversy
In March 2009, Wetherell made a derogatory comment to a national audience in regards to Samford UniversitySamford University
Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V....
. 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 DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, was a member of the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
from 1980 to 1992, and Speaker of the House in 1991 and 1992. He received support from The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
.