Will Genshafts dual role create conflict?
It’s easy to imagine the sort of conflicts that might arise when University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft begins her new role as a bank director and investor. Genshaft, whose involvement with the proposed American Commerce Bank was disclosed Tuesday, might one day have to vote on a risky loan to a corporation that financially supports the university. She might find herself talking about university business to a corporate honcho and wonder whether she should mention that her bank is looking for clients. She could simply discover that her bank duties are distracting her from an education job that cost Florida taxpayers about $375,000 in salary and bonus this year. But USF and bank officials say they have no problem with Genshaft’s new role. She is entitled to it, got permission for it and fully disclosed it. There’s an upside, too. “I see it as a huge positive that she can be in touch with folks that maybe she hasn’t met before who can help her in her capacity as a university
