John Thrasher became the 15th president of Florida State University in November 2014 following a successful career as a state legislator, businessman, lawyer and lobbyist.
As president, Thrasher has focused his efforts on elevating FSU’s reputation as a preeminent research institution and has led the university to recognition as the 18th best public university in the nation. In addition, he has presided over a $1 billion fundraising campaign, advanced the university’s academic and research mission, championed diversity and inclusion, and welcomed the best and brightest students in the university’s history.
An FSU alumnus, Thrasher earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1965. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army where he received the Army Commendation Medal in Germany and was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged as a captain in 1970. Thrasher then returned to his alma mater to earn a law degree with honors in 1972.
After working in private law practice in Daytona Beach and Tallahassee for several years, Thrasher returned to Jacksonville to serve as general counsel of the Florida Medical Association, a position he held for 20 years. He also served as “of counsel” to the Jacksonville law firm of Smith, Hulsey & Busey from 1996 to 2008. Thrasher was a partner of Southern Strategy Group, a Tallahassee-based governmental relations firm, from 2001 to 2009.
Thrasher’s political career began in 1986 when he was elected to the Clay County School Board where he served as vice chairman, then chairman. He then became a state representative in 1992, and he was re-elected without opposition in 1994, 1996 and 1998. Thrasher was unanimously elected as the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives in 1998. He was a key supporter of legislation that brought funding to the development of FSU’s College of Medicine, and a building at the college is named in his honor.
From 2001 to 2005, Thrasher was the first chair of Florida State University’s Board of Trustees. He also served as chair for the Republican Party of Florida in 2010.
He was elected to the Florida Senate in 2009 and subsequently re-elected. He served in the Senate until he was named president of FSU in 2014. He currently serves on the College Football Playoff Board of Managers.
Thrasher has received numerous awards in recognition of his leadership and service. He was inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame in 2017 and the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame in 2016. He also is the recipient of the NASPA Region III President’s Award and the Tallahassee Urban League Legend Award and was named the Tallahassee Democrat’s Person of the Year in 2015.
Born in Columbia, S.C., Thrasher moved to Florida as a child and grew up in Jacksonville. He and his wife, Jean, have three children and eight grandchildren.