Eric Barron, 58, named FSU’s new president

By Doug Blackburn – TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT SENIOR WRITER

December 8, 2009

Eric Barron, an accomplished research scientist and Florida State University alumnus, was named FSU’s next president this afternoon.

The Board of Trustees met for more than two hours before voting to hire Barron to replace T.K. Wetherell, who in June announced his desire to retire.

Barron was the lone candidate to come before the board, which drew concern from some of the trustees.

Director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., Barron held dean positions at Penn State and University of Texas. Both universities are members of the Association of American Universities, an organization that FSU is eager to be invited to join.

Barron, 58, graduated from FSU in with a bachelor of science degree. He was one of three finalists to interview last week with a presidential search advisory committee and other groups on campus.

Jim Smith, chairman of FSU’s trustees and chairman of the search committee, said Barron was a near unanimous No. 1 favorite with everyone Barron encountered in Tallahassee.

Barron said his first goal is to get to know his alma mater.

“I want to learn the culture and I want to learn the individuals,” Barron said. “You need to understand how things work and what people think.”