Diaz has limited education experience but was approved in a single-candidate competition – despite rules intended to normally require “more than two” finalists for the trustees to consider.
Author Archives: Michael Vasquez
Michael Vasquez is an investigative reporter at The Tributary.
He previously worked at The Chronicle of Higher Education — where his investigations led to policy changes at both the state and federal levels. Michael also led a team of reporters as education editor for Politico, where he spearheaded the team’s 2016 Campaign coverage of education issues.
He began his reporting career at the Miami Herald, covering both politics and education. His work there included Higher-Ed Hustle, a yearlong investigation of fraud and abuse in Florida’s for-profit-college industry. The series led to the closure of Miami’s most politically powerful for-profit college, the arrest of its owner, and a change in state law that created stronger protections for students.
His work has been recognized with multiple state and national awards, including a National Headliner Award, multiple Education Writers Association Awards, two Sunshine State Awards, and a Florida Society of News Editors Award.
A native of Queens, N.Y., Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Florida International University.
You can reach Michael at michael.vasquez@floridatrib.org
Posted inFlorida
With army of loyalists, DeSantis built a conservative higher-ed empire
With an ally expected to take over at UWF early this year, and a presidential vacancy at UNF, DeSantis is poised to build on his remarkable transformation of Florida higher education.
Posted inHigher Education
Inside track: Manny Diaz Jr., powerful interim president, emerges as sole finalist at UWF
Secret presidential searches have tightened Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ grip on college presidencies.
Posted inEducation, Higher Education
Florida wipes ‘culture,’ ‘diversity’ and other terms from UNF teacher-education courses
State officials cast a wide net in seeking to ban certain terms, ensnaring courses where words like “culture” and “diversity” appear in innocuous contexts.