FAU Board of Trustees Welcomes Two New Members

Two new members joined FAU’s Board of Trustees, the 13-member group responsible for policy decisions, implementation of our education programs, and more. The Florida Board of Governors appointed Earnie Ellison Jr. and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Anthony Barbar to the Board.

Trustee Ellison is the managing partner of Ellison Consulting Group, LLC, and a partner with EPB Golf, LLC, Walk-Off Golf, LLC and Mosaic Golf Partners, LLC. His companies help professional sports organizations and businesses implement inclusionary strategies and event management. He previously served as director of business and community relations for the Professional Golfers’ Association of America from 1997 to 2013.

Trustee Ellison succeeds Robert Stilley, who joined the board in 2006. Trustee Stilley is the longest-serving trustee in university history and was one of the most notable champions of our John D. MacArthur Campus. During his tenure as chairman of the board from 2011 to 2013, he had the vision to earmark crucial funding to support the burgeoning Life Science Initiative. This provided the boost we needed to turn the sparsely populated Jupiter campus into the epicenter of Palm Beach County’s life sciences industry. It’s hard to imagine what FAU Jupiter would look like without Trustee Stilley’s advocacy, and we truly owe him a debt of gratitude. Trustee Stilley was awarded the FAU President’s Distinguished Service Medallion in 2013 for his extraordinary service to the university. He has served as president and chief executive officer of HeartCare Imaging, Inc. since 1998. 

Anthony Barbar brings 12 years of experience to the board, having previously served from 2008 to 2020. He was chair from 2013 to 2020. Soon after his recent appointment to the board, he was elected vice chair.

Trustee Barbar succeeds trustee Malcolm Dorman, M.D., who passed away in March. He joined the board in 2016. An award-winning retired heart surgeon, Dr. Dorman also was a member of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Advisory Board and a dear personal friend. Over the course of his career, he became known among his colleagues as the go-to doctor when a miracle had to be performed and was recognized with multiple Patients’ Choice Awards and Compassionate Doctor Recognitions. Perhaps not surprisingly, Dr. Dorman became the heart surgeon of choice for many celebrities, CEOs, doctors, politicians and even world leaders. He was very kind and incredibly funny, and we truly will miss his presence at our University events.

I look forward to working with our new board members to further FAU’s mission as we continue our Race to Excellence.