Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Jeff Vahle, President of Walt Disney World Resort, to the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, marking an unexpected development given the state's recent history with Disney.
The appointment is pending confirmation by the Florida Senate. Vahle, who has led Walt Disney World since 2020, holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and an MBA from Rollins College. He also serves on the Rollins College Board of Trustees and supports several Central Florida organizations, including Give Kids the World Village.
DeSantis' decision to appoint a Disney executive to a prominent state university board comes less than two years after a high-profile clash between his administration and Disney over the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the self-governing body that had managed Walt Disney World property for decades.
The dispute began after Disney's public opposition to the Parental Rights in Education law in 2022. In response, DeSantis and the Florida Legislature replaced the district's board with state appointees and renamed it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The legal battle that followed drew national attention and was settled in 2024, marking a turning point in relations between the two sides.
Since the settlement, the governor has appointed new members to the oversight district viewed as more cooperative with Disney. Today's appointment of Vahle continues that pattern and may reflect a continued effort to ease tensions between the company and the state.
The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees oversees operations and long-term planning for one of the largest universities in the United States. As a trustee, Vahle will help guide policy decisions and support the university's strategic direction, pending Senate approval.
Some may view the move as a practical step toward repairing relations with one of Florida's biggest employers, while others can't overlook the irony given the years of public conflict between DeSantis and Disney.
The Florida Senate will consider Vahle's appointment during an upcoming session. No date has been set for confirmation.
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