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New College of Florida interim president Richard Corcoran fires the school's diversity dean

New College of Florida is offering guaranteed admission to qualified area students who apply by Dec 1.
New College of Florida
New College of Florida is offering guaranteed admission to qualified area students who apply by Dec 1.

At a Feb. 28 meeting of the New College Board of Trustees — when the conservative majority voted to eliminate the school's Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence — it signaled approval of a recommendation to reassign the office's four full-time employees.

But last week, Interim President Richard Corcoran fired Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez, the school's dean for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

During the February meeting, board member Christopher Rufo made a motion to eliminate the DEI office and "authorize the interim president to make necessary or appropriate personnel decisions.”

When asked for comment, a New College spokesperson did not offer a reason for the dismissal. An email response simply stated that "the Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence has been abolished and the position is no longer necessary.”

In a media event hosted by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, Rufo called college DEI initiatives "a vehicle for left wing political activists to hijack public resources."

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Cathy Carter is the education reporter for WUSF 89.7 and StateImpact Florida.