The Florida Board of Governors appointed Dean Colson on Thursday, a former chairman of the Florida Board of Governors, to the Florida International University Board of Trustees.
“Dean Colson has provided iconic leadership in private and public higher education in our community and statewide, said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “He is passionate about excellence and committed to improvement and social justice. We are thrilled with his appointment.”
Colson is a partner at the Coral Gables-based Law Firm Colson Hicks Eidson and has previously served as the president of the Dade County Bar Association. He has more than 30 years of leadership experience serving the citizens of Florida in various civic and community roles. Colson served as special adviser on higher education issues to Governor Charlie Crist, and was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission and Florida’s Commission on Ethics.
On the national stage, Colson was appointed by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts to the Standing Rules Committee of the Federal Courts and was the liaison member to the Appellate Rules Committee.
“I am honored to join the FIU Board of Trustees under the leadership of Chair Claudia Puig,” Colson said. “Higher education is something that I’m passionate about because we need quality university graduates ̶ in everything from STEM disciplines to the humanities and the arts ̶ in order to stay competitive at the state, national and international levels.”
Born and raised in Miami, Colson was educated in local public schools before graduating from Princeton University and the University of Miami School of Law. His community service includes chairing the 1995 Super Bowl XXIX Host Committee and serving as President of the Orange Bowl Committee in 2003. He is also a board member of several charitable and nonprofit organizations in South Florida. Colson received the “Citizen of the Year” award in 1995 from the Mayor of Miami. Colson served as a member of the University of Miami’s Board of Trustees and was its chair from 2004 to 2007. In 2009, FIU awarded Colson an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Laws.
He succeeds Chair Emeritus Albert Maury, a two-time FIU alumnus and long-time supporter of the university, who served on the board from 2007 to 2017. Colson’s term is effective immediately and runs through January 2021.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
