FIU board names Kenneth Jessell as sixth president, elevating him from interim status to permanent
MIAMI -- Interim Florida International University President Dr. Kenneth Jessell is now the University's President-Designate.
The university's board of trustees voted unanimously to make him the school's 6th president.
Along with the job comes a compensation package of just shy of 1 million dollars a year.
"I love the institution as well as the support of our students, facility's and stafff," Dr. Jessell said.
His goal is to crack US News and World Report's top 50 schools by 2025. Right now, it's at 72.
He said he'll concentrate on 4 key areas, "number one is student success. Number 2 is research excellence. Number 3 is sustainable finances for the institution and the final is university affinity and engagement," he said.
The new title is bittersweet for Dr. Jessell. His mom died Friday.
He shared she was excited knowing he would likely get the job.
"She asked me last Sunday, 'Can I have your business card?' And I said, 'Absolutely.' And I gave her my business card and it said, 'Interim President.' She said, 'I don't wasn't this one, I want the one that says President," he recalled.
He said he's also committed to academic freedom. "Yes, we are bringing up difficult topics, yes we are bringing up difficult challenges that the country faced over many years. But that's part of our history. We have an obligation to bring that up in the classroom," he said.
Cristhofer Lugo is the student body president, as well as, a member of the board of trustees. He said Dr. Jessell is centered on students. "He's super outgoing. He's super charismatic, he's super approachable," Lugo said.
Jessell's appointment becomes official next month after he's confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors.
As far as former president Mark Rosenberg, 73, he is set to return to the campus next January to teach an elective course.
