Nova Southeastern University Announces Leadership Succession Plan

Ferrero to Become University Chancellor and Hanbury to Assume Presidency in 2010 and CEO position in 2011

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla.—The Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Board of Trustees unanimously voted Dec. 7 on a leadership succession plan as announced by Ronald G. Assaf, chair of the Board of Trustees, and Alan B. Levan, chair of the Presidential Succession Committee. Effective Jan. 1, 2010, Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D., currently President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSU, will become University Chancellor and CEO and George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., currently Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), will become university president and COO.

The Board also unanimously approved, based on the recommendation of the succession committee, that in 2011 Hanbury will assume the role of CEO when Ferrero’s term as CEO expires.

Recognizing that his 13-year tenure as president/CEO would expire in 2011, Ferrero had urged the Trustees to adopt a succession plan.

“Having worked closely with Dr. Hanbury over the past 12 years, the NSU Board felt he was uniquely qualified to be the next CEO of Nova Southeastern University” said Assaf. “We are enthusiastic in knowing the strategic direction and opportunity for transformational change will continue in good hands.”

“I’ve worked with George Hanbury for a decade and I know he will ensure a smooth transition” said Levan. “The implementation of a succession plan assures that the strategic plan, adopted by the Board of Trustees, will continue to be implemented, its vision articulated, and its dreams, goals and objectives brought to fruition.”

“I am humbled and honored to receive the confidence of the Board to lead the university as President Ferrero’s successor” said Hanbury. “I credit the mentorship of Ray Ferrero, Jr. for the last 12 years and his guidance to assist NSU to achieve educational preeminence.”

Hanbury has held the position of executive vice president and COO for the last 12 years. Previously, he spent 30 years serving as city manager in the cities of Fort Lauderdale, and Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and assistant city manager in Norfolk, Virginia. He holds a B.S. from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in Public Administration from Old Dominion University in Virginia and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University.

Ferrero has served as NSU’s fifth president since January, 1998. His involvement with NSU began in 1984 as a member of the Board of Trustees. He served as chairman of the Board of Trustees from October 1988 until September 1995. He then held the post of vice chairman until becoming president in 1998.

Under President Ferrero, NSU has grown into the sixth largest independent, not-for-profit university in the nation and the largest in the southeast. In his 12 years as president, enrollment has increased 68 percent, from 16,921 in 1998 to 28,378 in 2008. President Ferrero has also overseen a transformation of NSU’s main campus with more than 2 million square feet of construction projects completed within the past 10 years.

Media Contact:
Alan Hancock, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5385, hancocka@nova.edu