Another member of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is headed to higher education.
The Pensacola State College Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously voted to appoint Alex Kelly, Secretary of the Department of Commerce, as the school’s next president. He will begin his tenure Oct. 19.
“Alex understands, as well as anyone in Florida, how education and economic opportunity are connected,” said Chairman Zack Smith in a released statement. “Throughout this process, we have seen a leader who listens, understands what employers and communities need and recognizes the extraordinary role Pensacola State plays in creating opportunity for our students and our region.”
Kelly will replace Edward Meadows, who has been president of PSC since 2008. This spring, Meadows announced he would retire at the end of 2026.
In his last year as president, Meadows made a base salary of $353,558.
“I am honored by the Board’s confidence and grateful for the warm welcome I have received from the Pensacola State community,” Kelly said in a press release.
DeSantis appointed Kelly as secretary in 2023, after the state rebranded the Department of Economic Opportunity as the Department of Commerce. Kelly currently earns a yearly salary of $185,996.64.
For the previous two years, Kelly worked in DeSantis’ office as his deputy chief of staff. Before that, he was chief of staff at the Department of Education to then-Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran.
PSC’s presidential search included 107 applicants from across the country, according to the school. The search committee selected nine candidates for interviews, then brought four applicants for a round of in-person interviews before recommending Kelly as the finalist on Aug. 29.
Kelly joins a number of DeSantis administration members or legislative allies of DeSantis who have taken prominent educational leadership roles in the past couple of years.
Earlier this year, former Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas was selected the next president of Polk State College. Kamoutsas was also DeSantis’ deputy chief of staff prior to becoming education commissioner in 2025.
Other DeSantis allies getting top education leadership positions include former Sen. Ray Rodrigues, who is university system chancellor; University of West Florida President Manny Diaz, Jr., a former state legislator who was education commissioner prior to Kamoutsas; Corcoran, the former Education Commissioner who is now president of New College of Florida; former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, who is president of Florida International University; former Rep. Mel Ponder, who is president of Northwest Florida State College; former Rep. Tommy Gregory, who is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota; former Rep. Fred Hawkins, who is president of South Florida State College; and former Rep. John Temple, who is president of Lake-Sumter State College.