Tallahassee, FL -- August 4, 2012

Barbara Palmer, a veteran state administrator, is the new director of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Palmer on Friday. She replaces Mike Hansen, who is returning to the Legislature.

Palmer was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 1982 for her efforts to pass a federal law for women's equality in college sports as women's athletics director at Florida State University.

She later served as an associate vice president at Florida State, was director of the state Division of Hotels and Restaurants and an assistant secretary in the Department of Children and Families. She' most recently was chief of staff for the agency she'll now head.

Hansen, a former House budget director, will fill the same job in the Senate.