Jeanette Nuñez, who has been serving as lieutenant governor of Florida, has been selected to serve as interim president of Florida International University, beginning February 17.
The institution enrolls about 44,000 undergraduate and 10,000 graduate students. Women represent some 56 percent of all undergraduates.
In 2019, Nuñez made history as the first Hispanic woman to serve as lieutenant governor of Florida. Earlier, she represented Miami-Dade County in the Florida Legislature for eight years. Before her career in public office, she served as vice president of governmental affairs at Jackson Health Systems. Earlier, she held leadership roles with Kendall Regional Medical Center and Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.
“It is this combination of professional experience and an extensive network in South Florida and throughout the state that makes Lt. Gov. Nuñez an ideal leader to help propel FIU into the future,” wrote Roger Tovar, chair of the FIU board of trustees. “One of the key characteristics to seek in a president is the ability to advocate for the university. I can think of no better advocate for FIU than a two-time alumna, from South Florida, who also served in the legislature and as lieutenant governor. In the time that I have known Lt. Gov. Nuñez, I have always been impressed with her engagement and her tireless efforts as a champion of FIU.”
Nuñez earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations and her master’s degree in public administration from Florida International University.