Jeanette Nuñez named sole finalist in search for FIU president

Former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez was the sole finalist named for the Florida International University presidency Thursday, a job she has held on an interim basis since February. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office had reached out to the university “and suggested that we consider Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez as the next leader for FIU,” FIU Board of Trustees Chair Roger Tovar said during a February special meeting in which Nuñez was introduced as interim president. 

Lt. Gov. Nuñez to head FIU, leave DeSantis administration

Then-President Kenneth Jessell became senior vice president and chief administrative officer even though his presidential term wouldn’t expire until November.

According to FIU, a search committee selected three finalists but two said they would only allow their names to be made public if they were the lone candidate. Those candidates withdrew, according to FIU. The committee unanimously agreed on Nuñez as the sole finalist, again according to FIU. 

Nuñez will participate in FIU community forums on campus on May 21 and trustees will meet on June 2 to interview her. 

FIU is the second State University System institution in the past week to name a sole finalist. The University of Florida on Sunday named University of Michigan President Santa Ono as its only finalist.

UF search committee Chair Rahul Patel said in an opinion column published by the Tampa Bay Times that other applicants for that position were only interested in being named a finalist if they were the only finalist.

“Interim President Nuñez’s distinguished career and commitment to further cement FIU’s position as a leader in higher education in Florida and across the country make her an excellent leader for FIU at this pivotal point in our university’s journey,” FIU Board of Trustees vice chair and chair of the search committee Carlos Duart said in a news release.

Nuñez graduated from FIU in 1994 with her bachelor’s degree and in 1998 with a master’s in public administration. She has served as an adjunct professor at the university and as Florida’s lieutenant governor from 2019 until two months ago. 

In February, FIU trustee Dean Colson said the “probable results of the search are already known.”

The unexpected move to name Nuñez as interim president came shortly before the 2025 legislative session, when legislators were supposed to determine how much money each SUS institution would receive from the state. The House ands Senate couldn’t agree on a budget and will return to Tallahassee to continue negotiations.

In February, Tovar said Nuñez’s experience as a health care lobbyist and lieutenant governor make her “an ideal leader to help transition FIU into the future,” noting her connections in the community and in Tallahassee.