A revamped college board — with six new members appointed by the governor in only the past six months — is seeking termination of longtime College of the Florida Keys President Jonathan “Dr. G” Gueverra.
Per an audio recording obtained by the Keys Weekly of the June 30 meeting at the Upper Keys Center, the seven-member board approved to consult with the Key West-legal firm Smith, Hawks PL to review whether the board has grounds to terminate an agreement between Gueverra and the college.
The latest development at CFK follows a statewide pattern of moves DeSantis has made to install new members on college boards in an effort to root out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — and install allies as president. Most notably, DeSantis’ hand-picked New College of Florida board was the subject of national attention. The former House speaker Richard Corcoran was chosen to replace the former president at the college. At Florida International University, the board of trustees selected former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez as president in June 2025.
During the meeting, the CFK board seemingly criticized Gueverra over the recent veto by the governor of $3.5 million to update the college’s air conditioning system. Some also believed there was a $2.2 million allocation in this year’s budget that was vetoed by the governor to expand the college’s marine science programs. That funding request was vetoed last year by the governor, and the request wasn’t included in the legislature’s approved spending plan this year.
Conversations also revolved around an exchange between college board Chairwoman Alexandria Suarez and Gueverra about his contract at a May 26 meeting. Some board members believed Gueverra was being disrespectful toward the chairwoman.
“Dr. G’s done a good job, but he’s been here 13 years. I would move for termination,” Suarez said during the June 30 meeting. Suarez was appointed by DeSantis in 2023 and became chair in February. “I don’t think the college is getting what it needs to get. I think the actions, aside from not getting the appropriations, and the insubordination, and the way things have happened with leadership. …”
Suarez added she spoke to Gueverra the Thursday before the meeting to go over the president’s assessment. She said she was “sincerely expecting an apology.”
“… but I didn’t get it in spite of me stating that,” Suarez told board members at the meeting. “I’m not sure if it falls under insubordination. But, that is neither here nor there. My biggest concern is the college isn’t getting the money it needs.”
A previous board approved a three-year contract extension with Gueverra during a July 29, 2025 meeting.
Captain and divemaster at the college Eddie Kertis was among four members appointed to the CFK board by DeSantis on Jan. 30. By Feb. 24, Kertis and fellow DeSantis-appointed members Peter Batty Jr., Michael Downer and Bob Broton were sworn in.
At the June 30 meeting, the governor’s latest appointments Susan Raffanello and Andrew Dulcey were sworn in.
While Kertis didn’t object to seeking termination with Gueverra, he recognized how the president of 13 years was “the driving force in where the college is today.”
An assessment by the newly-structured board on Gueverra noted his high level of knowledge in education and how he was able to handle crises, initiate new ideas and change, and demand effective short- and long-range strategic plans.
“As I also noted in my evaluation, “almost iconic the level of what he’s done here,” Kertis said.
But there were some criticisms board members provided. There were questions about two senior leaders who left at the same time, one who suddenly resigned and a vice president leaving with no explanation. There were also sentiments of disappointment of how Gueverra interacted with the board in understanding his contract, and the exchange between Suarez and Gueverra at the May meeting.
Gueverra was selected as the college’s sixth president in 2012. During his years of leadership, CFK launched new programs to support vital industries in the Florida Keys, including hospitality and ecotourism management and culinary management in 2015.
By 2017, the college launched the Keys’ first public baccalaureate degree, a bachelor of applied science in supervision and management. With support from the National Science Foundation, the college added an associate in science in engineering technology — renewable energy technician.
Outside of the programing, the college came to the aid of the community following Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The college rallied and helped more than 160 businesses secure more than $6 million in bridge loans through the Small Business Development Center. CFK also launched tuition-free construction apprenticeships in electrical, carpentry, plumbing and HVAC.
In becoming a baccalaureate-degree-granting institution, the institution was renamed College of the Florida Keys in 2019. The same year, the college started a bachelor science in nursing program in an effort to respond to the needs for highly-trained nurses on the island chain.
The expansions continued into 2020 with the college introducing a bachelor of science in marine resource management — the first degree of its kind in the nation. CFK also entered into the world of competitive sports with new men’s and women’s swim teams and membership in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
By 2021, CFK expanded its presence in the Upper Keys from its original location at Coral Shores High School to a new, 38,000 square-foot center in Key Largo. The new center delivers a wide range of programming — from marine science and hospitality to nursing and apprenticeships in trades. Basic law enforcement training at the center offers aspiring officers the ability to complete a 770-hour program. A correctional basic training course at the center prepares students to become corrections officers in Florida, pending passage of a state exam. Students with intellectual disabilities and autism are able to receive personalized programming, all while earning industry certifications and developing skills, through Project ACCESS.
“Dr. Gueverra has done a superb job running the College of the Florida Keys. From taking the school from a two-year junior to a four-year institution, and establishing a brand new campus for our Upper Keys residents, the list goes on and on,” said Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln. “He’s an honorable man who’s done more to champion higher education than anyone else in the Keys.”
In 2023, the college opened the CFK Academy, a tuition-free public charter high school on the Key West campus.
Kevin Madok served on the board for 12 years, with his final meeting being last January. A former board chairman of several years, Madok said the accomplishments of the college were “nothing short of incredible.”
“I equate it to the 1971-72 Lakers when they went on a 33-game winning streak. We were on a winning streak and it was very exciting to be a part of it,” Madok said. “He’s a true educator first, and it amazed me how he literally knew the names of every student on campus. He’d sit out on the breezeway and students would come out and talk to him.”
A day after the June 30 meeting, CFK issued a press release stating that it’s fully and solely accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The college has been transitioning to HLC since it was granted initial accreditation in November 2025 — maintaining dual accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) during that time. CFK’s membership with SACSCOC, which has accredited the college since 1968, concluded on June 30, 2026.
“Reaching this milestone is a testament to the determination and dedication of our faculty, staff and administration. As we conclude our 60th anniversary, completing this transition to the nation’s largest institutional accreditor is a fitting reflection of how far we’ve come — and the strong foundation we have established for an even stronger future,” Gueverra said in a press release. “Our students can be confident that their financial aid, their credits and their degrees are backed by a world-class accreditor, and this positions CFK to continue opening doors for our students and community.”
