TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Dorian Abbot, David Clark, Clifford Otto, Ilya Shapiro, and Sidney Theis to the Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees.

Dorian Abbot, PhD

Abbot is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago’s Department of Geophysical Sciences. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union and the Academic Freedom Alliance. Abbot earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and his master’s and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics from Harvard University.

David Clark

Clark is the Chief Executive Officer of MyGovGuide and the Managing Partner of Allegiant Strategies Group. Previously, he served as a Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Ron DeSantis and is a veteran of the United States Army. Clark earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and business management from Flagler College and his master’s degree in business administration from Cornell University.

Clifford Otto

Otto is currently retired, previously serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Saddle Creek Logistics Services. He is the former National President of the Warehousing Education and Research Council and the Chairman of the Warehouse Logistics Association. Otto earned his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Kansas and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland.

Ilya Shapiro

Shapiro is a Senior Fellow and Director of Constitutional Studies for the Manhattan Institute. Previously, he was the Executive Director and a Senior Lecturer for the Georgetown University Law Center. Shapiro earned his bachelor’s degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University, his master’s degree in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and his juris doctor from the University of Chicago.

Sidney Theis, PhD

Theis is the Owner of RDRTec Inc. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and is on the Board of Visitors at Texas A&M University Galveston and serves on the Texas Governor’s Council. Theis earned his bachelor’s degree in physics, his master’s degree in meteorology, and his doctorate in agricultural engineering from Texas A&M University.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

  ###