Taking Flight In My First Month As Fau President | Opinion

Achieving top-tier status as a research university. Ranking No. 103 among the nation’s top public universities by U.S. News & World Report. Posting record application, enrollment and graduation rates. Florida Atlantic University is rising fast, and the future has never been more exciting.

Since my first day as president at Florida Atlantic, I’ve been engaging with students, staff, faculty and community members to ensure the university’s next chapter is greater yet.

But if these first few weeks have proved anything, it’s that we’re just getting started.

Successful universities must connect academic programs to career opportunities, turn cutting-edge research into real-world solutions, and serve as engines of economic development. Florida Atlantic is all these things and more, and I’ve seen the boundless potential that exists across our six campuses, stretching from Dania Beach to Fort Pierce.

From meeting with deans and researchers to attending basketball and softball games and participating on panel discussions about the future of the university, every experience has reinforced my belief that Florida Atlantic is ready to accelerate. With that in mind, I’d like to share some of this momentum with you.

What I’ve learned from our stakeholders has been more than insightful, it’s been inspiring. Visiting all six campuses during my first two weeks, I gained a deeper understanding of the powerful capabilities defining each location and the regional strengths they support.

At Florida Atlantic’s southernmost campus, SeaTech in Dania Beach, I explored the trailblazing research and technologies related to autonomous marine vehicles, robotics and renewable energy solutions — and the promise of Florida’s ocean economy for which the campus is known. At the Davie campus, home to Florida Atlantic’s Everglades research and restoration efforts, I sat down with university and local business leaders to discuss working together to align curricula with industry advancements and requirements.

Visiting the downtown Fort Lauderdale campus, I was captivated by the award-winning School of Architecture, where students are leading the nation in transforming structural design through AI and emerging technologies.

While my wife and I have lived in Boca Raton for more than 30 years, and I’m no stranger to Florida Atlantic’s flagship campus, I made it a priority to immerse myself in the academic hub that houses the majority of the university’s 170 degree programs, as well as our 19 NCAA Division I athletic teams. I also headed across campus to tour the A.D. Henderson and FAU High School facilities, learning more about the exceptional K-12 programs that have earned its status as a three-time National Blue Ribbon School.

Like anyone visiting the John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, I was astounded by the groundbreaking research being produced by students and faculty researchers alike at the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. These world-class facilities are at the heart of an expansive life sciences enterprise on campus.

And at Florida Atlantic’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, I dove into world-class marine and defense research tied to our region’s environmental and economic well-being — and met a few manatees along the way.

While our campuses might span 110 miles of coastline, Florida Atlantic remains unified through ambition, innovation and a clear sense of purpose. We are committed to harnessing our unique geographic advantages and distinguishing ourselves through the qualities that differentiate us from other institutions.

Because of this, more students than ever before are excited to become Owls. We’ve already received more than 57,000 first-year applications for Fall 2025 — a record number — which speaks to Florida Atlantic’s growing reputation as a first-choice university for students in the state and across the nation. And since we are more selective than ever, our incoming class is expected to be the most academically competitive in university history.

But attracting top students and leading through innovation only scratch the surface of what comes next. Florida Atlantic is transforming the future by fueling discovery, driving social mobility, and creating new avenues for regional and economic growth.

This university’s story is still being written, and its pages are overflowing with opportunity. The next chapter will be shaped by bold ideas, a shared purpose and a commitment to student success. This is a university ready to lead — not just locally, but on a broader stage.

I’m only a few weeks in, but my focus is fixed on the university’s next 25 years. As Florida Atlantic ascends, I invite our local community to rise with us. It’s a great time to be an Owl!

Adam Hasner is president of Florida Atlantic University.