TALLAHASSEE, FL – March 9, 2015 – On March 5, 2015, GrayRobinson’s Tallahassee office hosted a Community Leader Forum featuring John Thrasher, President of Florida State University (FSU). Thrasher discussed "Florida State University: A Preeminent University on the Rise."
Thrasher began his presentation by recognizing that FSU, one of two public universities in Florida to earn preeminent status by the Legislature (University of Florida is the other). He shared that FSU's six-year graduation rate climbed to 79 percent from 77 percent last year; it was 74 percent five years ago. Many public universities nationwide have a six-year graduation rate below 50 percent. Thrasher added that when FSU students who transfer to other schools in the State University System are included in FSU's numbers, the six-year graduation rate increases to 84 percent.
Thrasher is currently working on securing outside resources in addition to pursuing state funding. FSU has already achieved half of its billion dollar fundraising goal.
Thrasher, a Florida State University alumnus and former state senator, is the university's 15th president. In his political career, Thrasher has served on a school board, in the Florida House of Representatives, where he was speaker during the 1999-2000 term, and in the Florida Senate. He was chair of FSU’s Board of Trustees from 2001 to 2005. Thrasher was a key supporter of legislation that brought funding to the development of FSU’s College of Medicine, and a building at the college is named in his honor. Thrasher earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a law degree with honors, both from Florida State. A U.S. Army veteran, he received the Army Commendation Medal and was awarded two Bronze stars for his service in Vietnam. He and his wife, Jean, have three children and eight grandchildren.
Through its Community Leader Forums, GrayRobinson brings together clients, attorneys and friends of the firm to hear high-profile business and community leaders and elected officials discuss issues of importance to the state of Florida.
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