Gulf Coast State College trustee and former board chair Mr. Bill Cramer was unanimously elected as the inaugural Chair of the Florida College System Council of Trustees at the Council’s organizational meeting on November 4, 2025. At the same meeting, the Council formally adopted its bylaws and elected officers to accelerate trustee-led advocacy and education statewide.
Established in close coordination with the Florida College System Council of Presidents, the Council will operate cooperatively to align priorities, share legislative initiatives, and present a unified message to state leaders.
The Council is a statewide association of more than 200 gubernatorially appointed Florida College System trustees. Modeled on the successful Council of Presidents, it unifies trustee voices, strengthens governance education, and supports student and workforce outcomes across Florida’s 28 colleges.
Inaugural Officers
- Chair: Bill Cramer, Trustee and former Chair, Gulf Coast State College Board of Trustees
- Vice Chair: Gordon Sprague, Chair, Pensacola State College Board of Trustees
- Secretary: Terry Atchley, Chair, South Florida State College Board of Trustees
Cramer brings decades of trustee leadership in the Florida College System, first appointed in 1987, with 20 years of service on the GCSC District Board of Trustees, including 18 years as Chair. He also served as Chair of the former Association of Florida Colleges Trustees Commission (2001–2003), which provided a forum for trustee collaboration and advocacy.
“Trustees are unpaid volunteers, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. We’re uniquely positioned to make the case for the state colleges—our voices carry the weight of unalloyed personal commitment,” Cramer said. “This Council ensures that commitment is heard—clearly and consistently—by policymakers.”
The Council will pursue a targeted $70 million increase in recurring state operating funding for Florida’s state colleges to expand student access and affordability, retain employees, and meet workforce needs. The Council also supports targeted investments in campus infrastructure and security, expanded nursing education, and other job-focused programs.
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