From Sarasota Magazine.com, March 25, 2021
Celebrate New College President Dr. Donal O’Shea at the “O’Shea Formula” on May 6!
Presented by New College Foundation
NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA is planning a virtual event to celebrate New College President Donal O’Shea, who is retiring in June, and the community is invited! The “O’Shea Formula” is a virtual event on May 6 from 6 to 7 p.m. MaryAnne Young, the vice president of advancement and executive director of the New College Foundation, says that additional details are forthcoming, but she is sure of one thing.
“It will be lighthearted and fun, as we come together to celebrate and honor Dr. O’Shea’s achievements and his unwavering dedication to New College,” Young says. She adds that all proceeds raised for the O’Shea Formula will be directed to student scholarships.
Honorary chairs for the O’Shea Formula include Beverly and Bob Bartner, Ron Christaldi, Doug and Erin Christy, Renee Hamad, Chuck and Carol Hamilton, Sue Jacobson, Christine Jennings, Bill and Betsy Johnston, Charlene Lenger, Keith Monda and Veronica Brady, Michael and Marie Pender, Charles and Vicki Raeburn, Mary Ruiz and Dennis Wilkison, Felice Schulaner and Dennis Rees, George and Tina Skestos, Dan and Sara Stults, and Lawrence and Elizabeth Vernaglia.
During O’Shea’s tenure as president, New College received more than $10 million from the state legislature to increase its enrollment to 1,200 students and boost four-year graduation rates to 80 percent by 2028. He also secured state funding for an addition to the Heiser Natural Sciences Complex and to launch the master’s program in data science, two $750,000 grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support arts and humanities and community engagement, and significant private gifts to fund student scholarships. He also oversaw the launch of a dual-degree program with the University of Florida, in which students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts from New College and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the UF Wertheim College of Engineering in five years.