A Message from President Hasner

To the Florida Atlantic community,

I am thrilled to welcome everyone back from spring break today, and to express how honored I am to begin serving as your eighth president of Florida Atlantic University. I have a deep appreciation for the accomplishments of those who have preceded me in this role, and I am excited to lead my hometown university at such a pivotal moment in our institution’s 60-year history.

First, I want to extend my sincere thanks to Stacy Volnick, Ph.D., for her dedicated service as interim president. Her tireless commitment has been instrumental to Florida Atlantic’s success over the past several years. I am pleased to announce that Stacy will continue to play an integral role at Florida Atlantic as executive vice president for administrative affairs and chief operating officer, remaining a valued member of our executive leadership team.

Florida Atlantic University is on the ascent. We live, learn and work in the most dynamic part of Florida, attracting people from across the country and around the world. My vision is to enhance Florida Atlantic’s reputation and prestige, ensuring they match the remarkable energy and boundless potential of the communities within the Fort Lauderdale to Fort Pierce region that we proudly serve.

As your president, I am fully committed to listening, learning and collaborating with the entire University community to create a culture where every student thrives, every faculty member has the opportunity to innovate, and every staff member feels valued. Together, we will prioritize exceptional academic achievement, impactful research and unique experiences that will define Florida Atlantic as a center of excellence and opportunity, and a vital partner to the Sunshine State’s long-term prosperity.

My primary focus will be on the tens of thousands of students across our six campuses, ensuring you have meaningful opportunities to succeed in both your educational endeavors and career pursuits. This institution exists to serve you, and we will be unwavering in our promise to help students reach their fullest potential. To achieve this, we must also prioritize recruiting and retaining top-tier faculty who are deeply dedicated to our students and whose meaningful contributions are recognized by both their peers and the broader community. Our faculty and staff play a crucial role in fulfilling our mission of student success, and I am determined to find effective ways to support this essential work.

There is much to be done — and no time to waste. In the coming weeks, Florida Atlantic will begin updating our strategic plan, building on a decade of leadership that earned us the prestigious designation as an R1 institution and propelled the University toward the ranks of the top 100 public universities in the nation. Our ongoing success is reflected in the record-breaking 55,000 applications we’ve already received for the next freshman class — a clear testament to our growing reputation for excellence. More than ever, Florida Atlantic is increasingly becoming the first choice for students eager to shape their futures and change the world for the better.

Over the next two weeks, I am excited to visit all six campuses to personally engage with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders. My door will always be open, and I look forward to hearing directly from each of you about how we can work together to propel Florida Atlantic forward, creating new opportunities for growth, innovation and success for all. When you see me on campus, please don’t hesitate to stop and say hello — I would love to hear your ideas, aspirations and perspectives!

Florida Atlantic has been instrumental in helping shape my career in public service, and it is the greatest honor of my life to now have the privilege of leading our University at such a transformative time. As we embark on this exciting new chapter, I look forward to working alongside each of you to build on our incredible momentum and elevate Florida Atlantic to even greater heights in the years ahead.

Thank you for the warm welcome we have already received. My wife, Jillian, and I are proud to officially join the Florida Atlantic family.

Go OWLS!

Adam Hasner
President