Dear members of the university community,
I came to this university almost 13 years ago because I truly believed in FIU’s unlimited potential, a fact that has been confirmed during my tenure. I realized early on how committed our university community is to driving talent, discovery, and innovation. Our students and faculty are solving some of the greatest challenges of our time, and it is an incredible honor for me to serve as interim president.
I know that this moment of transition at our university has been challenging. Every single person in our community should remain proud. We should continue to embrace what makes us a leading R1 public university. We know our university has been extremely successful over the last few years in terms of student success and research excellence, and we are just getting started.
Today, I am announcing the appointment of two leaders, alumnae of FIU, who I am confident will keep us moving forward together. In making these appointments, I am guided by the Next Horizon 2025 Strategic Plan and the need to have leaders that will meet this moment with confidence and responsibility.
It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Elizabeth M. Béjar as Interim Provost, Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer effective March 1. In the coming months, she will work closely with me and Dr. Kenneth G. Furton to ensure a smooth transition of academic operations.
Dr. Béjar becomes the first Hispanic and first alumna to serve as provost. She came to FIU in 2003, and in 2009 became our first Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Accountability. Five years later, in 2014, she was named Vice President of Academic Affairs. In 2018, when FIU merged student affairs with academic affairs, she was named Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and initiated the innovative educational redesign. She has provided strategic oversight and guidance in mobilizing and working with teams of education professionals to research, pilot, develop and implement 21st century higher education initiatives focused on the academy. In this capacity, she has served as advisor and provided direct support to the president and provost on educational policy, academic programs and student affairs.
During her time at FIU, her research includes serving as Principal Investigator on research studying Hispanic-serving institutions, developing evidence-based models for improving student retention and graduation, and minority-serving institutions’ models of success.
Dr. Béjar earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Boston College, a master’s in International and Intercultural Development Education from FIU, and a bachelor’s in Psychology and Elementary Education from the University of Miami.
I believe Dr. Béjar’s vision, experience and dedication will continue to propel excellence in research, teaching, and student success. Together, we commit to fully supporting the upward trajectory of our research enterprise and our adjusted goal of $400 million in research expenditures guided by the FIU Next Horizon 2025 Strategic Plan.
In addition, it is my pleasure to announce that Aime Martinez, CPA, Associate Vice President for Business and Finance, has been named Interim Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance and Administration. In her most recent role at FIU as Associate Vice President, she managed the Office of Financial Planning, which is responsible for the development, planning and monitoring of FIU’s $1.7 billion in operating and capital budgets.
Ms. Martinez has served the FIU community for more than 21 years in various capacities, after several years in the private sector working as an auditor and tax preparer in a public accounting firm and as accounting manager for a public energy company.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Béjar and Ms. Martinez on their new roles and supporting them during this time of transition.
I believe deeply in the mission of our university, and I am grateful for the Board of Trustees’ confidence in me. Over the next few weeks, I hope to have a dialogue with members of our university community about how we move forward to reach our incredible potential.
Thank you for your support and commitment to FIU.
Sincerely,
Kenneth A. Jessell
Interim President
