According to multiple news reports, Lt. Col. Janet Nunez will soon be appointed interim president of Florida International University.
The FIU Board of Trustees is poised to hold a scheduled emergency meeting on Friday, and name Nunez to replace Kenneth Jessel, the current president who has led Miami Schools for the past three years.
Florida public universities must search for permanent leaders and interview candidates, but once Nunez is tentatively appointed, she has a clear path to becoming permanent president. I’ll set it up.
Jessel reportedly leaves his post, but remains at school as a professor. The imminent switch was first reported by CBS News Miami.
With this move, Gov. Ron DeSantis will perform another well-known government role. He must already appoint two Florida Cabinet positions, attorney general and chief financial officer.
Sales in high-ranking Florida offices were driven by President Donald Trump relying on candidates for Sunshine to fill the new administration. The Florida Attorney General is open as Trump named Ashley Moody to replace Ashley Moody in the Senate as former U.S. Senator Marco Rubio became secretary of state.
DeSantis says he will nominate his Chief of Staff James Usmier to replace Moody. Earlier this week it was revealed that he will be named Jason Wida, secretary of the Healthcare Administration. However, he has not officially appointed uthmeier. John Gard is acting attorney general.
Incumbent Jimmy Patronis is scheduled to leave the post on March 31st in the CFO position. He resigned from running for the open US house seat for the departure of former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz after Trump first chose him as Attorney General. Before he came across the Senate against his nomination.
As for the person who will replace Nuñez, 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 that requires the lieutenant governor to be named when there is an opening.
Under state law, if the position of lieutenant governor is vacant and the governor resigns, incompetent or dies, the attorney general becomes governor.
Nunez, 52, is a FIU graduate who was also taught and served as an advisor at school. She joined Desantis on his ticket as the first governor in 2018 after serving at home for eight years. The Miami native spent most of her tenure in South Florida as lawmakers passed a bill that allowed her to have an office there.
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.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Gray Rohrer is a reporter for the USA Today Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be contacted at grohrer@gannett.com. X: Follow him on @grayrohrer.
