PROFILE
S. Daniel Ponce
Double Gator appointed UF Trustee
By Rachel Attal
Gov. Charlie Crist appointed S. Daniel Ponce (JD 73) to succeed Manny Fernandez as a member of the University of Florida Board of Trustees. Ponce’s term as UF trustee began Jan. 8. He joins two other UF Law alums, Courtney Cunningham (JD 86), who continues to serve on the board, and C. David Brown II (JD 78) who’s term expired Jan. 6.
Ponce, 59, of Gainesville, is a “Double-Gator” who received his bachelor’s degree in business (BSBA) with honors in 1970 and his law degree in 1973, both from the University of Florida. He is a partner in Legon Ponce & Fodiman P.A., a law firm based in Miami. Ponce also is chairman of the board of Imperial Industries Inc., a NASDAQ-traded company.
“I’m honored that the governor has given me the opportunity to serve the university that I love so much,” Ponce said. “I look forward to working with the other trustees in guiding the university toward its goal of being among the top 10 public universities in America.”
Ponce already serves UF as a member of the boards of University of Florida Foundation and the University of Florida Athletic Association. He also was a past president of the UF National Alumni Association. He recently was named president and chairman of the Orange Bowl Committee.
Ponce was the keynote speaker at the Levin College of Law’s commencement ceremony May 9.
Mr. Ponce is President and Chairman of the Orange Bowl Committee and is on the Executive Board of the New World School of the Arts in Miami. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the UF Foundation, serving on the Audit and Finance Committees and also currently serves on the University of Florida Athletic Association Board, having served on the Audit Committee, Finance Committee and the Athletic Director Search Committee. Mr. Ponce has served for many other organizations and has received many awards, including the University of Florida Hall of Fame.
Mr. Ponce served as Senator Bob Graham's Special Counsel in Washington, DC in 2002. Mr. Ponce was formerly Assistant General Counsel and Acting Executive Assistant to the State of Florida Comptroller and Cabinet Officer (1974-75).
Ponce, former Florida Blue Key president, has been a lawyer in the State of Florida since 1974, a Certified Public Accountant since 1972, and is admitted to practice law in all courts of the State of Florida and Federal Courts, including the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, the Eleventh and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.