First published 2024
Richard Corcoran faces his greatest challenge when he becomes president of New College of Florida in 2023. The former state education commissioner arrives on a campus dominated by progressive activism and cancel culture. Students and faculty resist his reforms while media outlets attack his every move. Corcoran must dismantle entrenched bureaucracies, protect free speech, and combat rising antisemitism. His success at reopening Florida schools during the pandemic prepared him for institutional battles, but transforming a college proves far more complex. Campus mobs organize against him as he eliminates diversity programs and changes hiring practices. The pressure intensifies when enrollment numbers become the ultimate test of his leadership. Corcoran discovers that winning requires more than policy changes. He must rebuild the entire culture of an institution while defending his vision against constant opposition. The story follows his year-long campaign to prove that conservative education reform can succeed even in hostile territory.
Genres: contemporary, education, activism, academia, campus, american-history
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, institutional-politics, underdog
Setting: Florida, New College of Florida
Period: 2023
336 pages · Hardcover · Bombardier Books