Norman Tripp, chairman of Florida Atlantic University's Board of Trustees and a South Florida lawyer, was appointed to Florida's Board of Governors, the State University System's highest governing body, on Tuesday.
Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Tripp to fill the vacancy left by Jorge Arrizurieta, who left the board to serve on Florida International University's Board of Trustees.
The state Senate must confirm Tripp's appointment.
Mark Rosenberg, the board's chancellor, described Tripp as "a voice of moderation," which Rosenberg said would help the board as it fights the Legislature's attempts to change its composition.
A joint resolution passed by the Senate would reduce the board's size from 17 to eight members.
The resolution must be approved by 60 percent of voters and the House before becoming law.
Tripp said he doesn't have a comment on the resolution.
"I believe in the Board of Governors, and I believe that they have a role that they can play in coordinating the efforts of all of the universities and making the system stronger," he said.
Tripp said he wants to make sure each university's board of trustees has authority to run its own area, and he wants to keep tuition affordable.
