Calling her “Mother of the Panthers,” the Florida International University Council named Janet Nunez Naka on Friday as interim president.
At a meeting Friday morning, all but one board members voted to be named interim president of the university.
Chairman Rogerio Toval said Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office contacted him and asked him to consider Nuñez as the next president of the South Florida-based university.
After a conversation with Nunez, Toval called her appointment a “great opportunity.”
“I have always been impressed with her engagement and her tireless efforts as a FIU champion,” he said. “I couldn’t think of any more advocates.”
More than dozens of speakers who effectively appeared at the Zoom Call Meeting opposed her nomination, but some sports have “no Nuñez” background wallpapers. Many said they were students and graduates.
Throughout the week, reports have circulated the name of Nunez, replacing Kenneth Jessel, the current interim president who has led the Miami School for the past three years. His term is expected to end this year, and he had told the board that he did not want an extension.
Tober said the school will continue searching for the seventh president, and Jessel will become the university’s senior vice president and chief administrative officer.
Faculty Senator Noel Valengo was the only board member to vote against Nuñez’s appointment as interim president.
Recently, she has done something troublesome about her support and advocated as a Florida House of Representatives: granting in-state tuition fees to students who illegally come to the country.
He said the faculty is grateful for her history as a two-time alumni, but was asked about how her appointment turned out: “What made this change necessary? ?” he asked.
Nunez, 52, is a FIU graduate who was also taught and advised at school. She served at home for eight years, rose to Speaker Pro Tempore, joined DeSantis with his ticket as governor in 2018, becoming the first governor of Li from Latinos in the history of the state.
As lieutenant governor, Nunez earns $135,516 a year. Jessell’s base salary is $650,000 and includes other bonuses and perks, including campus homes.
At an unrelated press conference at Capitol on Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said she would not resign as lieutenant governor anytime soon, showing him that he might name the alternative, or who it is. It never happened.
“We are honored to be elected interim president of Florida International University by the FIU Council,” Nuñez posted to X after the meeting. “As a two-time alumni and a proud Panther mom, I am deeply committed to FIU’s success and look forward to working with the board over the next few days.”
As for whom DeSantis could name him as Nuñez’s successor, the CBS News Report pointed to Jose Oliva, a Miami Republican and former Florida House Speaker, DeSantis’ political ally.
However, Florida law does not have a deadline, but requires DeSantis to name the governor of the eugent during the opening.
During Rick Scott’s tenure as governor, his position as lieutenant governor has been vacant for 10 months, filled after a Tallahassee lobbyist filed a petition before the court and forced Scott’s hand. He ended up choosing Carlos Lopez Cantera, finishing his 308-day vacancy in the office.
DeSantis said he knew that becoming FIU president was something Nunez wanted to do, and he supported her and supported her position.
“I think fiu has the opportunity to really expand his horizons. I think they did a good job, but I think we’ll see her pick up more steam while at the helm. “He said.
Grey Lawler contributed to this story. USA Today Network’s State Watchdog Reporter AnaGoñi-Lessan-Florida can visit agonilessan@gannett.com.
