Runner-up for FGCU president's post in 2023 eyed for Florida Education commissioner

July 20, 2026 - 00:14

Dr. Henry Mack, a former finalist for the top job at Florida Gulf Coast University, is being considered for the role of Florida's next Commissioner of Education. Governor Ron DeSantis has put Mack's name forward for the position, which oversees the state's public school system and education policy.

Mack was a runner-up in the 2023 search for a new president at FGCU. He lost the nomination by a single vote from the university's board of trustees. That close decision kept him from leading the Fort Myers-based school, but it did not end his career in state education leadership.

Mack currently serves as the state's Chancellor of Career and Adult Education. He has been a key figure in the DeSantis administration's push for workforce development and vocational training. Supporters say his background in both higher education and state policy makes him a strong fit for the commissioner role.

The Florida Board of Education is expected to vote on the appointment in the coming weeks. If confirmed, Mack will replace outgoing Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., who is leaving the post to take a different position in state government.