A message from President Nuñez

Dear FIU community,

Today, the Florida Board of Governors confirmed me as the seventh president of Florida International University. As an FIU alumna, proud parent, and former adjunct professor, it is truly humbling to now lead our institution.

Together, we will write the next chapter of FIU’s remarkable story. We will elevate this institution to Top 30 by 2030 and further cement our position as a leader in higher education. In just 53 years, FIU’s success has been exceptional. We have shown it’s possible to support our students, to provide them with an affordable high-quality education, to help them open doors to meaningful careers, to be preeminent, and to be a very high research university.

In fact, I’m proud to share that the Florida Board of Governors announced that FIU is once again the number one university in the state in performance. This is the third consecutive year that FIU has been recognized for its outstanding results in metrics such as four-year graduation rate, retention rate, cost of attendance to students, and employment of recent graduates.

We’ve come a long way and now it’s time to take it to the next level. We must all work with renewed energy, purpose, and a sense of urgency. We must deliver on the vision of our strategic plan, Experience Impact 2030, and continually enhance our academics, expand our research in health care, environmental resilience, and innovation and technology, solidify our partnerships, give back to our community, and set our students on a path to meaningful careers and success. We must celebrate the accomplishments of our colleges, the faculty for providing a high-quality education and engaging in groundbreaking research, the students for their academic success, the athletics program for their wins on the field, and the alumni across the country for their contributions. Our shared success shows that FIU is second to none.

As President, the students will be at the center of everything I do. I commit to sharing our FIU story and the remarkable work being done throughout our campuses, making the FIU student experience unforgettable, increasing our fundraising efforts, pushing the limits on our academic excellence, supporting recruitment and retention of faculty, reengaging alumni and bringing them back home, elevating our athletics program, and expanding our FIU brand throughout the state, country, and world.

My connection to FIU is deeply personal and I know what’s possible. I have seen the power of this university to transform lives and everything we’ve accomplished is proof of what Panthers can achieve when we work together. At FIU, we will make no small plans, and I hope you will join me in this new chapter.

FIU is our home and we will continue to build a legacy of excellence. Panthers, our vision is clear, our future is bold, and our time is now.

Paws Up!

Sincerely,

Jeanette M. Nuñez
President