MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu

FAU Names New BOT Leadership

BOCA RATON, FL (January 21, 2005) - Florida Atlantic University's Board of Trustees (BOT) unanimously named Sherry Plymale as its new chair and Norman Tripp as its new vice chair of the University's governing board.

"I look forward to continuing to work with Trustees Plymale and Tripp in bringing FAU closer to its goal of being a world renowned institution," said FAU President Frank T. Brogan.

The FAU BOT governs and sets policies for the University in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida and the policies of the Board of Governors. The principles that guide the BOT include the support of academic freedom, the commitment to the search for new knowledge and the dissemination of that knowledge.

"I thank my fellow trustees for the confidence they have placed in me and look forward to the challenges and opportunities of the next two years," said Trustee Plymale. "We, the BOT, accept the responsibility of setting the stage for FAU to make its mark as an innovative, 21st century institution."

Chairwoman Plymale, a principle in Bolender Properties Group, previously served as the vice chair of FAU's BOT. In addition to this, she is the immediate past chair of the State Board of Community Colleges. A former chief of staff of the Florida Department of Education, she has also served on the board of directors of the Healthy Kids Corporation. Plymale currently serves as chairman of the board of the YMCA of the Treasure Coast, the National Assembly of the YMCA of the USA, the BOT of St. Leo University and a member of Leadership Florida. She has a bachelor's degree from St. Leo College in political science. A 30 year resident of Martin County, Plymale and her husband are both members of the FAU National Alumni Association.

Vice Chairman Tripp is founder, chairman emeritus and a partner in the Tripp Scott law firm in Fort Lauderdale. Active in community efforts, he served as a member and chair of the State Board of Community Colleges, a member and past chair of the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, a member of the Broward Board for the Annenberg Challenge Grant, a member of the Board of Governors for the Nova Southeastern University School of Business and a past trustee for the University of Miami. A founding benefactor of the Community Foundation of Broward, Tripp began the Tripp Fund for Educational Opportunity and the Tripp Scott Fund for Community Diversity. He helped establish the George Mitchell Distinguished Visiting Professor Program at FAU. Tripp was a founder and general counsel of Alamo Rent-A-Car.

"The most rewarding thing I have done in public service is the giving of my time to public education in the state of Florida and being a voice for public education to remain accessible and affordable," said Trustee Tripp.
Trustee Tripp earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami in economics and earned a Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from Cleveland State University.

- FAU -