UF will have a presence on Gov.-elect Rick Scott’s transition team.
UF President Bernie Machen and UF Board of Trustees member Carlos Alfonso have been appointed to work on Scott’s Economic Development Transition Team and Regulatory Reform Transition Team, respectively.
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said it is early, and Machen’s responsibilities on the team are not yet clear, but he will be a valuable resource for Scott.
They are interested in Machen’s expertise in higher education and its impact on the economy, he said.
According to Scott’s website, the teams are charged with identifying opportunities to reduce the size of government, transforming the regulatory climate in Florida and looking for ways to attract new businesses to the state.
They are tasked with identifying new ideas from the private sector and successful examples from other states.
Orlando noted the importance of the university getting involved in the transition process, particularly because of its place in the state’s economy.
“It’s good that we can play some role in the transition of the administration,” he said. “UF has a huge economic impact on the state.”
Brent Christensen, president and chief operating officer of the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, and John Hitt, president of the University of Central Florida, have also been given posts on the Economic Development Transition Team.
