The LeRoy Collins Institute today announced eight board members have agreed to serve another three-year term with the nonpartisan statewide organization, signaling a continued commitment to researching, developing and promoting forward-thinking public policies to solve key issues facing Floridians. The board members who will continue to serve alongside the 16 other trustees include: Jim Apthorp of Tallahassee, who co-founded the Institute in 1988, Rena Coughlin of Jacksonville, Rick Edmonds of St. Petersburg, Pegeen Hanrahan of Gainesville, Jim Ley of Sarasota, Audrey Moran of Jacksonville, Janet Owen of Orlando and Nicole T. Washington of Miami.
“We are honored these eight community leaders have chosen to remain on the LeRoy Collins Institute Board of Directors for three additional years. Each individual has contributed a wealth of knowledge, thought-provoking ideas and steadfast dedication to our organization throughout their term, and I am pleased to continue collaborating with them,” said Dr. Carol Weissert, Florida State University political science professor and Leroy Collins Institute director. “Our board members are an integral part of our efforts to spark statewide discussion and meaningful change through research on important topics including education, debt, pensions and governmental transparency.”
In February 2018, the LeRoy Collins Institute issued the latest report in its Tough Choices series, Benchmarking Debt Obligations in Florida Cities and Counties, which evaluated the long-term debt obligations of all 67 Florida counties and the largest 162 municipalities. In the previous year, the Institute analyzed the enrollment changes and segregation trends in Florida public schools and charter schools in its Patterns of Resegregation in Florida’s Schools report, generating widespread attention at the national, state and local levels.
For more information on the LeRoy Collins Institute, please visit collinsinstitute.fsu.edu.
About the LeRoy Collins Institute
Established in 1988, the LeRoy Collins Institute is a nonpartisan, statewide policy organization which studies and promotes creative solutions to key private and public issues facing the people of Florida and the nation. The Institute, located in Tallahassee at Florida State University, is named in honor of former Florida Governor LeRoy Collins and is governed by a distinguished board of directors, chaired by Lester Abberger. Other board members include executives, local elected officials, and other professionals from throughout the state.
