In the ongoing transformation of New College of Florida—what many alumni call “the takeover” — President Richard Corcoran’s recent denial of emerita status to Professor Amy Reid captures the punitive pettiness of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ cronies.
Background: The story begins in January 2023, when Governor Ron DeSantis appointed a slate of conservative trustees to New College’s Board of Trustees. Within months, Faculty Chair Matthew Lepinski abruptly resigned both his chair position and his professorship. Professor Reid became Faculty Chair and served as an ex officio member of the Board.
Throughout 2023 and into 2024, Reid became known for challenging President Corcoran and DeSantis’ appointees to the Board. Students and alumni watched as she represented what they saw as New College’s historic values—intellectual independence, academic freedom, and the collaborative tutorial system that made the college distinctive. For many, she became a symbol of resistance to changes they viewed as destructive to the institution’s character.
Dig Deeper: We have seen the 2023 overhaul of New College as a harbinger of what may happen at the University of West Florida after DeSantis’s sycophants, who have little relationship with our community, took control of the UWF Board of Trustees.
Corcoran’s Revenge
After nearly three decades of distinguished service, Reid and colleague Malena Carrasco were both recommended for emerita status by the Division of Humanities. The vote wasn’t even close: 21-4 in favor for Reid, 24-1 for Carrasco. Provost David Rohrbacher forwarded both recommendations to President Corcoran with his support, noting that Reid was “an outstanding teacher and scholar, and an innovator in curricular development” who had been elected Faculty Chair by her colleagues. Read 2025.09.03 Record of New College of Florida, Division of Humanities Motions
- Background: Emeritus status is typically granted as a matter of course for faculty with such lengthy, distinguished careers. The benefits are modest—library privileges, a campus email, free parking—but the honor itself represents institutional recognition of decades of service to students and scholarship.
President Corcoran approved emerita status for Carrasco. But for Reid, he had a different answer. Read 2025.10.07 E-mail Chain re Reid Emerita Nomination
In an email that has circulated among alumni, Corcoran wrote that while he recognized Reid’s “contributions to New College in teaching and scholarship,” he could not grant her emerita status because she had been “one of the leading voices of hyperbolic alarmism and needless obstruction.” He quoted from Reid’s resignation letter—”the New College where I once taught no longer exists”—and added with unmistakable scorn: “She need not be burdened by further association with it.” Read 2025.09.03 Record of New College of Florida, Division of Humanities Motions
The message was clear: dissent will be punished, even retroactively.
Alumni reaction has been swift and harsh. Many see Corcoran’s decision as petty retaliation against a faculty member who dared to question his agenda while serving on the Board.
In denying Reid emerita status, Corcoran reveals the vindictive spirit animating New College’s transformation. It’s a message to remaining faculty: loyalty will be rewarded, but principled disagreement carries a price—even after you leave. Merit doesn’t matter in the political world created by Gov. DeSantis.
Will Interim UWF President Manny Diaz act differently?
