07-02-2025
Florida International University trustees name Lt. Gov. Nunez as interim president
Calling her "the mother of panthers," after the school's mascot, the Florida International University Board of Trustees Friday named Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez its interim president.
At a meeting Friday morning, all board members present except one voted to name Nuñez the university's interim president.
Board Chair Rogelio Tovar said Gov. Ron DeSantis' office contacted him and asked him to consider Nuñez as the next president of the South Florida-based university.
After conversations with Nuñez, Tovar called her appointment "a great opportunity."
"I have always always been impressed with her engagement and her tireless efforts as a champion of FIU," he said. 'I could think of no better advocate."
More than a dozen speakers who appeared virtually at the Zoom call meeting opposed her nomination, however, with some sporting a "No Nuñez" background wallpaper. Many said they were students and alumni.
Throughout the week, there had been reports circulating Nuñez's name to replace Kenneth Jessell, the current interim president who has led the Miami school for the last three years. His term was set to end this year, and he had told the board he did not want an extension.
Tovar said the school would continue a search for its seventh president, and Jessell will become a senior vice president and chief administrative officer at the university.
Faculty Senate President Noël Barengo was the only board member to vote against Nuñez's appointment as interim president, saying faculty were concerned and disappointed over some of her political positions.
Recently, she did an about-face on granting in-state tuition to students who came to the country illegally, a policy she supported and argued for as a Florida House member.
He said faculty appreciate her history as a two-time alumna, but had questions about how her appointment came to be: "What made this change necessary?" he asked.
Nuñez, 52, is an FIU alumna who has also taught at the school and served as an adviser. She served in the House for eight years, rising to Speaker pro tempore, before joining DeSantis on his ticket in his 2018 run for governor, becoming the first Latina lieutenant governor in the state's history.
As lieutenant governor, Nuñez earns $135,516 per year. Jessell's base salary is $650,000 with other bonuses and perks, such as a house on campus, included.
At an unrelated press conference at the Capitol Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said she would not resign the lieutenant governorship immediately, and gave no indication when he might name a replacement or who that might be.
"I am honored to be selected as Interim President of Florida International University by the FIU Board of Trustees," Nuñez posted on X after the meeting. "As a two-time alumna and a proud Panther mom, I am deeply committed to the success of FIU. I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees in the coming days."
As for who DeSantis could name to replace Nuñez, a CBS News report pointed to former Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva, a Miami Republican and a political ally of DeSantis.
There's no deadline in Florida law, however, requiring DeSantis to name a lieutenant governor when there's an opening.
During Rick Scott's tenure as governor, the lieutenant governor position was vacant for 10 months and was filled after a Tallahassee lobbyist filed a petition in court, forcing Scott' 's hand. He eventually picked Carlos Lopez-Cantera, ending a 308-day vacancy in the office.
DeSantis said he knew becoming FIU's president was something Nuñez wanted to do, and he supported and endorsed her for the position.
"I think FIU has an opportunity to really expand its horizons. I think they've done a good job, but I think you're going to see them pick up even more steam with her at the helm, so it's an exciting time," he said.
Gray Rohrer contributed to this story. Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez named interim president of FIU
