FSU eyes candidates to replace Thrasher as president Members of public express opposition to Corcoran’s bid Published: Tags: FSU President John Thrasher (Florida State University photo) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Florida State University seeks a successor to retiring President John Thrasher, a committee Friday started interviewing nine finalists for the job — as questions swirled about a potential conflict of interest for one high-profile candidate and as a student campaign emerged for another. The university’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee began a two-day process of interviewing the finalists, a mix of politically connected local candidates and academics from universities throughout the country.