Five Area College Leaders Revive Push for Collaboration

Driving south on U.S. 41 from the North Trail into downtown Sarasota, Dr. Donal O’Shea was surprised by what he saw early last summer. Largely undeveloped and dotted with vacant storefronts, the five-mile stretch of highway that serves as a gateway to the city showed little sign of the educational hub he knew existed there. The renowned mathematician and newly appointed president of New College of Florida had just relocated from Mount Holyoke College, a women’s liberal arts college in South Hadley, Mass., where he served as dean of faculty and vice president of academic affairs.