Florida State University recorded the most successful fundraising year in its history during the 2025-26 fiscal year, with alumni, parents, faculty, staff, friends and partners contributing a record $235.4 million.

The total surpassed the university’s previous fundraising record of $225 million, set in 2015-16, led by a $100 million gift from Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation.

The record-breaking total includes philanthropic support raised through the FSU Foundation, Seminole Boosters, Research Foundation, Alumni Association and The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. These investments support FSU’s strategic priorities leading to FSU’s powerful impact across Florida and beyond.

“This record-setting year reflects our momentum and the exquisite support of Florida State University’s future,” FSU President Richard McCullough said. “From Dr. Herbert Wertheim’s historic $65 million dollar gift to the over 41,000 donors who support Florida State each year, these gifts create new opportunities for students, accelerate groundbreaking research and advance initiatives that improve our lives. We are deeply grateful to every donor who is now part of our shared future.”

The record fundraising year advanced priorities across the university, from scholarships to faculty support, to improved healthcare, to research and capital projects.

The year’s largest gift came from visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. Herbert Wertheim whose $65 million investment established the Herbert Wertheim College of Business and the Herbert Wertheim Center for Business Excellence. This is the largest endowment gift in university history and will transform the business of healthcare, create new opportunities for students and faculty and further strengthen one of the nation’s leading public business schools.

“We are deeply grateful to every donor who is now part of our shared future.”

– FSU President Richard McCullough

The university also received a $10 million gift from Bruce and Tracey Berkowitz and The Fairholme Foundation, the largest in the history of the FSU College of Nursing. The investment will expand undergraduate nursing education and innovation at FSU’s Panama City campus while helping address critical nursing workforce shortages across Northwest Florida.

“Every gift represents someone who believes in Florida State and the impact this university has on students, families and communities,” said Marla Vickers, vice president for University Advancement and president of the FSU Foundation. “I extend my deepest gratitude to FSU’s donors and commend their commitment to supporting our university through philanthropy. Their remarkable philanthropy directly empowers our students, strengthens our academic programs and fuels the work of our faculty in truly transformational ways.”

This was also one of the most successful fundraising years in Seminole Boosters history. Philanthropic support helped the Boosters and Athletics open the renovated Doak Campbell Stadium, creating an enhanced experience for fans, donors and student-athletes, as well as the Dunlap Football Center to further enhance recruiting, development and student-athlete support.

“This was among the strongest fundraising year in Seminole Boosters history, and it happened because our supporters don’t just give to Florida State, they are part of the Seminole family,” said Stephen Ponder, president and CEO of Seminole Boosters. “Their generosity strengthens our student-athletes, advances the university’s mission and demonstrates what’s possible when our community comes together behind Florida State.”

The university’s record fundraising year reflects the generosity of thousands whose investments are helping Florida State expand opportunities, advance discovery and prepare tomorrow’s leaders. As the university’s comprehensive campaign continues, those partnerships will play a vital role in shaping Florida State’s future.

To learn more about supporting Florida State University, visit give.fsu.edu.

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Long before Florida State University became known for its research enterprise and nationally ranked academic programs, the arts were helping shape the life of the university.

Music, theater and visual arts were among the earliest academic offerings at the institution that would become FSU, predating many of the STEM and professional programs taught at the university today.

Over the decades, those programs have grown into nationally recognized schools in music, film, theater, dance and design while bringing world-class artists, exhibitions and performances to campus.

Today, as Florida State celebrates its 175th anniversary, the arts remain central to the university’s identity by enriching campus life, connecting the university with the community and preparing generations of artists, performers and creators.

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Steven High, executive director of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, has announced he will retire after 15 years leading the Sarasota museum complex governed by Florida State University.

High has served as executive director since 2011, overseeing a period of significant growth in collections, educational programming, attendance, fundraising and campus expansion at The Ringling, which serves as Florida’s State Art Museum under the stewardship of Florida State University. He will remain in the position until his successor is identified.

High said serving as executive director of The Ringling has been the highlight of his career and credited the museum’s growth to the work of its staff, foundation board, university leadership and community supporters.

“Together, we strengthened The Ringling’s financial foundation, expanded its reach and preserved its remarkable collections and historic campus for future generations,” High said. “I am deeply grateful to Florida State University, our supporters and the Sarasota community for their partnership and trust.”

During High’s tenure, The Ringling more than doubled its collections, enhanced exhibition programming and educational offerings while overseeing major additions and restorations across the museum’s campus. High oversaw the opening of the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art, the Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion, and the Turrell Skyspace Joseph’s Coat as well as several major restoration and preservation initiatives. He also expanded educational outreach, accessibility initiatives and multidisciplinary programming, including the Art of Performance series.

The Ringling also experienced substantial institutional growth during High’s leadership, increasing its annual operating budget from $12 million to $28 million and growing its endowment from $27 million to $67 million. The museum completed a $100 million comprehensive campaign in 2019 and expanded its campus through a series of major projects and initiatives.

“Steven High strengthened The Ringling’s role as both a world-class museum and an important part of Florida State University’s academic mission,” said FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “He expanded opportunities for student learning, research and community engagement while helping preserve and enhance one of Florida’s great cultural institutions. FSU has invested in The Ringling’s growth and success, and Steven’s leadership helped ensure those investments created lasting impact for the museum, its visitors and our students.”

Ringling Museum of Art Foundation Board Chair Meg Hausberg said High’s leadership helped elevate the museum’s national and international reputation while deepening its ties to the university and the Sarasota-Manatee community.

“Steven High has led The Ringling with extraordinary care, intellect and purpose,” Hausberg said. “His leadership elevated the museum’s profile while also strengthening its role as a cultural and educational resource for the state of Florida.”

The Ringling is one of the largest university-based museum complexes in the United States, encompassing 66 bayfront acres and nearly 500,000 square feet of facilities in Sarasota. The campus includes the Museum of Art, Tibbals Learning Center, Circus Museum, Ca’ d’Zan mansion, Historic Asolo Theater, and extensive research, conservation and education spaces. The institution welcomes more than 400,000 visitors annually.

Florida State University has overseen The Ringling since 2000, when the state transferred responsibility for the museum’s stewardship and operations to the university. Today, The Ringling serves as both a cultural destination and an academic resource supporting teaching, research and museum studies opportunities for FSU students and faculty. In January 2026, FSU and The Ringling marked 25 years of shared stewardship.

A nationally respected museum leader and scholar, High’s early career began with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following graduate work at Williams College, he held leadership and academic roles at institutions including the Portland (Maine) School of Art and Virginia Commonwealth University and led the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno and Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia.

Across a career spanning nearly five decades, he has curated numerous exhibitions and published dozens of scholarly catalogues. High also served in leadership roles for national and local organizations, including the American Alliance of Museums and the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.

Florida State University and the Ringling Museum of Art Foundation have hired Isaacson, Miller, a national search firm, to assist in identifying High’s successor.

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The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (The Ringling), the official State Art Museum of Florida, is celebrating 25 years under the stewardship of Florida State University (FSU), a transformative partnership that has led to major restoration and expansion in addition to record public engagement.

“We are grateful for the steadfast stewardship of The Ringling by Florida State University these past 25 years. Their support has allowed us to flourish and advance our mission to serve as the legacy of John and Mable Ringling and to inspire, educate, and entertain. We look forward to our continued partnership and success together in the years to come.”

— Steven High, Executive Director of The Ringling

“We are grateful for the steadfast stewardship of The Ringling by Florida State University these past 25 years,” says Steven High, Executive Director of The Ringling. “Their support has allowed us to flourish and advance our mission to serve as the legacy of John and Mable Ringling and to inspire, educate, and entertain. We look forward to our continued partnership and success together in the years to come.”

Under FSU’s governance, The Ringling has experienced significant transformation, driven by disciplined financial management, strong infrastructure, and long-term planning.

Several key initiatives have included:

• Addition of 12,500 works to the collection between 2000 and 2022, eclipsing the 8,000 objects acquired in the 54 years prior
• Growth of the endowment from $4 million to $65 million
• Enhanced preservation and conservation efforts, including a $15 million restoration of Ca’ d’Zan in 2002, John and Mable Ringling’s historic mansion
• Expansion of education, programming, and outreach that now welcome over 45,000 visitors annually

New facilities, including:

• John M. McKay Visitors Pavilion, housing the Historic Asolo Theater, the Children’s Welcome Center, Mable’s Coffee Shop, the Ringling Grillroom, and the Museum Store
• Johnson-Blalock Education Center, housing one of the largest art research libraries in the southeastern United States and conservation laboratory
• Tibbals Learning Center, housing a 3,800 square-foot Howard Bros. Circus Model, and The Greatest Show on Earth® Gallery
• Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing, providing more than 20,000 sq. feet of exhibition space
• Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art, presenting over 3000 years of history from across Asia
• Keith D. Monda Gallery for Contemporary Art
• Kolter-Coville Glass Pavilion, showcasing The Ringling’s growing collection of studio glass

“Today, The Ringling is one of the largest university-based art museums in the US,” says Jim Clark, PhD, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Florida State University. “It is a testament to the power of partnership and collaboration between the state, the university, and the vibrant Sarasota and Manatee communities—a partnership that preserves history, inspires learning, and keeps the arts alive for generations to come.”

As Florida’s official state art museum, The Ringling is a public asset owned by all Floridians. State funding for The Ringling is delivered back fivefold to taxpayers, providing a clear net gain for Floridians. Students at FSU gain invaluable experience in arts administration, museum studies, and education.

As The Ringling and Florida State University celebrate 25 years of shared stewardship, both institutions recognize the importance of maintaining a relationship that preserves John and Mable Ringling’s mission and legacy.

About The Ringling
As the State Art Museum of Florida and part of Florida State University, The Ringling is Florida’s center for the arts, history, and learning. It brings the past and contemporary culture to life through extraordinary visitor experiences and welcomes roughly 400,000 visitors annually to its campus in Sarasota, Florida. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. For more information: www.ringling.org

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A former graduate student of Florida State University’s Department of Art History is now the Tibbals Curator of Circus at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art’s Circus Museum and is leading the creation of a new permanent gallery space that highlights the contemporary era of circus. 

Jennifer Lemmer Posey is the lead curator of the museum’s “Greatest Show on Earth Gallery,” which opens Saturday, April 6, featuring interactive exhibits and a behind-the-scenes look at how circus performances are planned, intricate costumes and more. As the State Art Museum of Florida and part of Florida State University, The Ringling fulfills an important educational mission by offering formal and informal programs of study serving as a major resource for students, scholars and lifelong learners of every age within the region, across the country and around the world. 

“The exhibit features a theater that combines a video with real props to simulate the feeling of being at a live circus show,” Lemmer Posey said. “We can’t give people live performance every day all the time at the museum, however, this exhibit creates a moment of wonder and a reminder of the experience of going to the circus.” 

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At The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida State University students can gain career-building experience working in a variety of museum departments such as archives, collections, development, education, library, and a performing arts theater.

Helping to facilitate these student experiences is The Ringling’s Associate Director of Academic Affairs and Collections, Jay Boda.

Since 2000, the museum has been governed by Florida State University, making it one of the largest university art museums in the nation. This connection gives FSU students access to the 66-acre campus, which boasts more than 200,000 square-feet of galleries featuring eclectic collections ranging from antiquity to contemporary.

Boda supervises academic programs at The Ringling and oversees its program team consisting of archives, collections, education and library departments. Programs like the Department of Art History’s Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies Master of Arts and the specialized program in Museum Education and Visitor-Centered Curation offer courses and internships at The Ringling.

“The Ringling is a major asset to our university and our students and Dr. Boda himself is an incredible asset,” said Lorenzo Pericolo, chair of the Department of Art History. “His dedication to our Art Education and Art History students is unmatched.”

After 20 years of service in the United States Air Force, Boda retired as a Master Sergeant and followed his passion for education in museums. In 2011, he started his museum career as a volunteer docent at the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Boda answered questions about his life and work.

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The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, part of Florida State University, presents a group exhibition featuring more than 100 artworks by 12 Native American artists. Their work expands the conceptual framework of Native American art made in Florida today and provides a fuller understanding of the complexities of issues within the art of the Seminole diaspora.

“Reclaiming Home: Contemporary Seminole Art” will be on display from Saturday, March 18 through Monday, Sept. 4 in the Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing of The Ringling in Sarasota and features artwork from Seminole, Miccosukee and mixed-heritage artists from Florida, along with notable work by the internationally recognized artists of Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole descent from Oklahoma, California and beyond.

“This major exhibition highlights the range and depth of the fantastic artwork by some of the most outstanding Native American artists and is an imperative step toward establishing a meaningful relationship with the Native American artistic community,” said Ola Wlusek, The Ringling’s Keith D. and Linda L. Monda Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. “We are honored to be able to present the work of these incredible artists at The Ringling.”

The members of the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes of Florida are represented by visual artists who work, or have worked, in textiles, film, woodworking, beadwork, digital drawing and painting. Their work offers an intimate look into the artists’ lived experiences and explores issues of ancestry and identity, the environment, and interfaith and traditional ways of knowing Florida’s Native communities.

Drawing from photo-based and digital collage techniques, performance, video, installation art and mixed media, artists from the Seminole diaspora explore image-making, Muskogean languages and offer diverse perspectives on the themes of memory, history, health and representation as expressions of Native visual sovereignty.

Artists in the exhibition include Noah Billie (Seminole), Wilson Bowers (Seminole), Houston R. Cypress (Miccosukee), Elisa Harkins (Cherokee/Muscogee [Creek]), Alyssa Osceola (Seminole), Jessica Osceola (Seminole/Irish), C. Maxx Stevens (Seminole/Muscogee [Creek]), Tony Tiger (Sac and Fox/Seminole/Muscogee [Creek]), Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie (Taskigi/Diné [Navajo]/Seminole), Brian Zepeda (Seminole), Corinne Zepeda (Seminole /Mexican) and Pedro Zepeda (Seminole/Mexican).

As part of The Ringling’s ongoing commitment to add work by artists with a connection to Florida, the museum will unveil Jessica Osceola’s “Portrait One,” “Portrait Two” and “Portrait Three” (2017). With the generous support of the Daniel J. Denton Florida Art Acquisition Fund, it is the first work by a Seminole artist to be added to The Ringling’s collection of modern and contemporary art.

This exhibition will include several important loans from the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, located on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation.

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