New College of Florida Student Michael Long Youngest to Chair Florida Student Association

June 23, 2011 — New College of Florida student Michael Long participated in his first meeting today as the youngest student representative ever to serve on the Florida Board of Governors, the governing body of the State University System of Florida. Long, 19, is also the youngest student elected as chairman of the Florida Student Association (FSA), representing more than 320,000 students in Florida’s 11 public colleges and universities. His term is through May 2012.

“On behalf of my fellow board members, we are delighted to have Michael Long join the Florida Board of Governors to represent the perspective of more than 320,000 students enrolled in our 11 public universities and to represent what is in the best interests for the future of the State University System,” said Chair Ava L. Parker, a Jacksonville attorney.

A native of Sarasota, Long is studying environmental policy at New College of Florida. This past fall, as a freshman, Long was elected as New College Student Alliance co-president, the youngest student to do so since New College’s founding in 1960. He also captains New College’s sailing team and has led numerous team trips to the Florida Keys and Bahamas with his peers.

As FSA chairman, Long said he wants “to focus on encouraging more students across the state to participate in the legislative process in Tallahassee and speak out on issues that may negatively impact Florida’s college students.”

Long, a first-generation college student from his family, said he bears full financial responsibility for his education, having balanced two jobs with his rigorous studies at New College.

Long regularly volunteers with Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and AMI Kids, a program dedicated to helping troubled youth develop into responsible and productive citizens. As someone who was once in his own share of trouble, Long said he is committed to sharing his success story if it can help turn someone’s life around.

The State University System of Florida is comprised of 11 universities with a total enrollment of more than 320,000 students. Article IX, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution was amended in 2002 to establish a statewide system of governance for all Florida public universities. As a result, the Florida Board of Governors was created in 2003 and is responsible for defining the distinctive mission of each university and ensuring the well-planned coordination and operation of the System. The Board is comprised of 17 appointed members. The Board of Governors appoints a Chancellor who serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the university system.

The Florida Student Association (FSA) is comprised of the student body presidents of member institutions in the State University System of Florida. The FSA coordinates the collective efforts of each of the member student governments with a goal of providing unified student representation before the Florida government. The chairman of the Florida Student Association serves as the student representative on the Florida Board of Governors.

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