By David L. Snelling

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Following a 10-month national search which included interviewing qualified candidates from as far away as California, the Broward County College Board of Trustees have picked their new president.

Former Broward County School Board member and Broward County commissioner Torey Alston is the new CEO.

On Friday the trustees unanimously selected Alson to lead the college, picking him over another finalist, Joe Llon, a Washington D.C. resident who holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia.

The board decided to pick a leader with ties to the area and cited Alston’s experience including serving as executive director and CEO of the Greater Miami Expressway Agency.

Alston, a Broward county native, was also a trustee of Florida A&M University and served twice on the leadership team of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

“God is so good and I want to thank the Broward College District Board of Trustees for their vote of support and confidence as I transition to president of Broward College,” Alston said.

“As the son of two parents who attended community college including my father who completed the police academy 40 years ago from then Broward Community College, I know the value of the state college system firsthand.”

Alston succeeds Dr. Donald P. Astrab, who served as interim president since 2024.

At the meeting, Vice Chair Zachariah “Reggie” P. Zachariah, Jr. made a motion to allow the chair to begin negotiating an employment contract with Alston.

“This is a decision that my fellow trustees and I took very seriously,” said Board Chair Alexis Yarbrough. “We had two very strong candidates, but Mr. Alston’s legislative experience, coupled with his relationships in the community made him the obvious choice.”

Others praised the Alston selection. “I served with Torey on the FAMU Board of Trustees many years ago and he still carries that same passion for education today,” said State Rep. Gallop Franklin, ranking member of the House Higher Education Budget Subcommittee. “He would be a great college president.”

Adrian Lukis, former chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appointed Alston to the County Commission and School Board, said he possesses leadership that can take the college to new heights.

“When you think of strong leadership in Broward, only a few names come to mind,” said Lukis. “After working with Torey directly on big state issues as FDOT Chief of Staff and watching him serve as CEO at GMX, I know he will be a great president for Broward College.”