President Aysegul Timur, Ph.D.
Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., was selected to become Florida Gulf Coast University's fifth president on May 4, 2023, following a unanimous endorsement from the FGCU Board of Trustees. Her presidency was confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors on June 22, 2023.
Timur, an economist by training, is a Naples resident with more than 24 years of experience in higher education.
In her most recent role, Timur served as Vice President and Vice Provost for Strategy and Program Innovation at FGCU, where she has worked since 2019.
Timur is widely known for building collaborative teams of university and community stakeholders to implement strategic initiatives, including workforce alignments. This includes launching FGCU’s micro-credentialing and digital badges initiative, which enhance the rigor of existing academic programs while being responsive to the ever-changing needs of the business community.
Timur also led the efforts for FGCU to receive a historic $22.9 million grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce — Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge Grant to amplify workforce development efforts in Southwest Florida.
Prior to joining FGCU, Timur worked for Hodges University, where she progressively took on larger leadership roles. She started off as a teaching assistant in 1999 and steadily scaled the academic ranks to become a full professor of economics in 2009. She soon took on additional administrative roles, ultimately becoming Dean of the Johnson School of Business in 2014 and the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs in 2017.
Timur’s selection as FGCU’s next leader is historic, as she is the first woman and immigrant selected to lead the university.
Originally from Turkey, Timur is a first-generation college student who made the cross-continental move to Naples 25 years ago. She quickly learned English and, within the next four years, earned a doctorate from the University of South Florida. Prior to moving to the U.S., she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from the University of Istanbul.
Timur raised her two children with husband, Mete, in the Southwest Florida community. While furthering her career in higher education, she also embedded herself in the regional community, performing civic service and taking on additional leadership roles.
Today, Timur is chair of the Collaboratory Board of Trustees, a member of the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Board of Trustees, a member of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, immediate past chair of the Leadership Collier Foundation Advisory Council, and a member of the International Women’s Forum’s Florida Suncoast Board of Directors.
PRESIDENT TIMUR'S WEEKLY MESSAGES TO CAMPUS
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July 2023
Toggle More InfoJuly 3, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
By now, many of you have heard my story about how I chose to continue my journey in higher education by making the transcontinetal move to Southwest Florida 25 years ago. Being so far away from my culture and family led me to adop this region as my new home and the people around me as my new family.
And that's how I think of Florida Gulf Coast University. It is home. You are my family.It is truly an honor to serve as the fifth president of your university! I am excited for the work - and fun - to come as we grown, innovate and change together. FGCU serves as an economic driver to Southwest Florida and beyond, and we will continue to foster the feedback loop between the growth of the university and the needs of the region. FGCU will take the lead on innovating and adapting big ideas and new ways of learning, teaching, reseraching, and most importantly, preparing our students for today's ever-changing work and business environment and the future of work as life-long learners. I am so passionate and enthusiastic about working alongside the FGCU community to transform lives and build a better future!
We are in a time of rapid change and technological disruption, and we need to focus on our strategic directions. My top goal over the next 90 days is to dig deep into the strategic planning process, which we started over a year ago with the launch of the FGCU Strategic Roadmap initiative. With feedback from our students, facutly, staff, alumni and the communities we serve, we are ready to complete the process. It is my goal to have a final document to present to the FGCU Board of Trustees in December and the Florida Board of Governors in January, so the journey to make these deadlines begins today.Soon, announcements will roll out about the various ways you can get involved and have conversations with me. I want to hear from all of you! We will also be strengthening campus communications and bolstering efforts to create two-way channels to share ideas and feedback. Don't be surprised if you see me out of the office and around campus for town halls, roundtables, meet-and-greets and classroom visits. You can also email me at president@fgcu.edu, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
But all of that can wait a day. Tomorrow if the Fourth of July, and I want to wish all of you and your families a wonderful and safe Independence Day.
Wings up and go Eagles!
July 10, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
Last week kicked off the start of my presidency at FGCU, and I want to thank you for the warm welcome and outpouring of support. Even with the Fourth of July holiday and extreme heat, our campus was buzzing with activity.
I enjoyed stopping by the Library Lawn to talk with students during the Programming Board’s Fresh Sesh event, and I was pleased to chat with students who were beating the heat by studying indoors.
From an administration standpoint, I began meeting one-on-one with members of the Board of Trustees to outline my performance goals and other topics. Cabinet continues to meet on its regular schedule to discuss our direction as a leadership team, and we began initial conversations about our budget allocations and future legislative funding requests. While it is too premature to share details at this time, as all of these conversations are ongoing, I will keep you updated as we move along.
If I miss you while I’m out and about, don’t forget you can always email me directly at president@fgcu.edu. I look forward to seeing you on campus.
Wings up and go Eagles!
July 17, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
I am starting my third week in office, and I continue to be out and around on campus.
Last week, I dropped by Eagle View Orientation and could not stop myself from making some remarks and welcoming everyone to the Eagle Family! I am inspired and energized by meeting with our upcoming class and their families.
In addition to being around campus, I have been out in the community talking about FGCU and the role it plays in Southwest Florida. Also, I continue to meet with members of the FGCU Board of Trustees through one-on-one meetings focused on our strategic direction.
Last week, the President’s Cabinet worked on the 2024 Legislative Budget Request, and we have ongoing meetings to discuss our current budget allocations. Additionally, we are working on naming the co-chairs and establishing the expectations of two new committees: one focused on the strategic planning process for the university and the other on internal communications. I will provide more details about these endeavors over the next few weeks.
Finally, I want to remind everyone to take care of yourselves. We are absolutely having a very hot summer, and it’s important to be attentive to the recommendations of local authorities, including FGCU’s Emergency Management office.
Wings up and go Eagles!
July 24, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
I was delighted to spend time last week with the Mandela Washington Fellows, a cohort of 25 young leaders from Africa who have spent the summer on our campus learning how to bring about positive changes in their home countries. It was so rewarding to hear them reflect about their time at FGCU, and how they regard us as a model for working with our local community.
As you know, part of that connectivity is FGCU’s research that is applicable to our region. I saw that in action last week when I learned more than I probably ever wanted to know about pythons from senior-level students and their faculty. I attended the Department of Biology’s Summer 2023 Undergraduate Research Symposium, and it was truly remarkable.
And for a little extra fun, I tried to put my best foot forward at the Student Shuffle, a line dancing event at University Recreation & Wellness. Next time, I’m bringing my gym clothes!
From an administration standpoint, I want you to know that the President’s Cabinet is continuing its work on the 2023-24 budget allocations. Also, we have decided who will lead the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. Committee co-chairs are Dr. Clay Motley, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, and Jorge Lopez, associate vice president of Student Financial Enrollment and Business Services. Serving as ex-officio is Dr. Eileen DeLuca, the interim chief strategy and program innovation officer. Their first job is to form a committee, which will include student, faculty and staff representatives from across campus. By the start of August, FGCU will have picked a consultant that will work alongside the committee to help create our next strategic plan, so this is an exciting first step in the process. Congratulations to Clay, Jorge and Eileen!
I plan to share more about the Internal Communications Committee next week. Stay tuned!
Wings up and go Eagles!
July 31, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
What a month we have had! It’s amazing to think that tomorrow is the first of August, which means we are counting down to when FGCU faculty and students return to campus. I am so eager to begin the fall term with all of you.
As summer comes to an end, it is bittersweet to say goodbye to the Mandela Washington Fellows. We have built incredible ties with them, and I know they will carry FGCU's commitments to the community and civic engagement back home with them to Africa. They are now part of the Eagle Family, and we will always be in touch.
I’ve continued to be out and about, spending time with employees and students alike. I’ve also been inviting university partners, business leaders and other representatives of our Southwest Florida community to our beautiful campus for meetings. One of my priorities is to do everything I can to showcase what our campus has to offer, and often that means I’m inviting our outside guests for lunch meetings at SoVi Dining or The Boardwalk. It truly has made all the difference in our discussions, and it helps me tell FGCU’s story.
And that leads me to my next point. As I teased last week, the President’s Cabinet has decided who will lead our newly formed Internal Communications Committee. The group’s co-chairs are Pamela McCabe, the coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations, and Professor Lyn Millner of the Department of Communication & Philosophy. They will round out the committee with representatives from across the campus community, and the group’s work will help us elevate the story of FGCU as we engage with one another in more meaningful ways.
In the next week, I will be traveling to Munich, Germany, to visit the European regional head office for Arthrex. During this trip, we will discuss how we can expand our partnership and create new opportunities for academic, research and workforce development.
In closing, I wish all of you a wonderful week, and I look forward to seeing you around campus.
Wings up and go Eagles!
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August 2023
Toggle More InfoAugust 7, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
We are now one week out from the start of the fall semester, and the energy that comes with a new academic term can be felt across every corner of campus.
Part of that energy is due to an increase in traffic as more of our Eagles return to the nest. Today, we welcome back most of our faculty members who have been off for the summer, and our residential students will being moving into their rooms in the coming days.
As you make your way around campus, you will likely notice some of our summertime upgrades to campus. Signage on windows and doors are in the process of being updated with FGCU's new logo, and the main loop around campus has been refreshed with new asphalt and traffic lines. We are looking very sharp!
I encourage all faculty and academic support staff to be on the lookout for a message from Provost Mark Rieger today. He has some very exciting news to share for the year ahead.
And to all employees, I am looking forward to seeing you Friday at the Welcome Celebration - our annual kickoff to the fall term. This is a great opportunity to share a meal, catch up with colleagues and meet our newest employees. I'll be giving the "State of the University" address, and I will discuss what's next for FGCU as we head into our 26th year of teaching and learning.
It trusly is an exciting time to be an FGCU Eagle, and I look forward to welcoming the fall term with all of you.
Wings up and go Eagles!
August 14, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
I am thrilled to welcome all FGCU students, faculty and staff to the new academic year! It is truly a time of new beginnings here on campus, and I am so excited to welcome the incoming class of 2027, our transfer students and new hires to the Eagle Family.
It is not lost on me that FGCU will celebrate its 26th birthday in 11 days. Our institution’s future is bright, and we will remain focused on the pursuit of excellence in terms of academics, research, scholarship, service to the community and the day-to-day functions that ensure our students are successful.
I want you to know that we have been very busy all summer preparing for the start of fall classes, and here are two changes I know our students and employees will be glad to know:
- We have upgraded our campus WiFi network, known as eduroam, to provide faster network
speeds and higher security standards. Service will now be available on the Library
Lawn and the outdoor area near Academic Building 9, home of The Water School. If you
need help logging into eduroam, visit edu/wifi for instructions.
- We are in the process of building a new elevated, lighted boardwalk to provide a safer way for our students and employees to travel between the SoVi residential area and the main academic corridor. The pathway will have access points at SoVi Dining, the Bower School of Music & the Arts and the nearby multipurpose rec field. We will have more updates on the boardwalk in the coming months – stay tuned!
Of course, it would not be the start of the fall term without showing school spirit. I look forward to greeting students tonight at Eagle Revolution, our annual pep rally to kick off the new academic year. Don’t forget, doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Alico Arena!
Our faculty and staff had their own version of a pep rally last week with the annual Welcome Celebration. It was a terrific opportunity to catch up with colleagues, meet our new hires and share our excitement for what’s to come in our 26th year.
I can feel it already – we are off to a banner 2023-24 academic year.
Wings up and go Eagles!
August 21, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
We’re one week into the new academic year, and it is so wonderful to see the energy and excitement that comes with the start of the fall term. I have made it a priority in my schedule to drop by the Weeks of Welcome events, which has given me a chance to introduce myself to students and, in one case, catch a ride on the swings during the First Day Fair on the Library Lawn. These events are a great way to have fun, meet fellow students, get connected to campus and learn more about what it means to be an FGCU Eagle.
It is so important for all of our students, especially our freshmen, to feel they belong at FGCU – that this is your home away from home. Our faculty and staff are here to support you in your journey, and students can reach out to us at any time for extra support. We can help you get more involved with campus events and activities, introduce you to other students and programs, and we can provide guidance for the road ahead – be it academics, internships or local career opportunities. We’re here to support you, so don’t hesitate to ask for help!
One of the highlights of my week was an off-campus excursion to the Bonita Springs community. Dr. Steve McIntosh, a member of the FGCU Foundation Board of Directors, orchestrated a tour where I could visit with community and business leaders to talk about growth and partnerships with FGCU. It’s important for us to make these connections in the five-county region we serve.
I am also very proud to tell you that two important state funding requests were approved by the FGCU Board of Trustees during its virtual meeting on Friday. Here’s what you should know:
- Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund | This $1.1 million funding proposal is meant to incentivize collaboration between nursing education programs, like we offer through Marieb College of Health & Human Services, and partners in the healthcare industry. By working together, we can meet local, regional and state workforce needs, and we would use the money to recruit more instructors, improve the nursing education program and increase the number of nursing graduates.
- 2024 Legislative Budget Request | The $10.9 million funding request will help FGCU take its student-centered education model to the next step by preparing incoming students for college-level work, build tomorrow’s workforce and leverage innovative programs. The three-step approach will ensure more students complete their academic programs on time with skills that will help them meet the demands of an ever-changing workforce. You can read more about the LBR document in the cover story of August’s Inside FGCU newsletter.
- We have upgraded our campus WiFi network, known as eduroam, to provide faster network
speeds and higher security standards. Service will now be available on the Library
Lawn and the outdoor area near Academic Building 9, home of The Water School. If you
need help logging into eduroam, visit edu/wifi for instructions.
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September 2023
Toggle More InfoSeptember 5, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family! I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing Labor Day weekend, and that you are returning to campus today feeling refreshed and energized for the week ahead.
As I look at my calendar, there are many events that I am looking forward to attending this week.
On Wednesday morning, I’ll be at the Civility Summit in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom. The event begins at 10 a.m. and is open to the entire FGCU community. It is the first event planned by FGCU’s newly created Office of Public Policy Events, and I hope to see you there.
On Thursday afternoon, we will gather in the Cohen Student Union, Room 201, for the next event planned by the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. They are helping us build on the momentum of last year’s strategic roadmap initiative with a noon to 3 p.m. kickoff event. It’s not too late to register – click here for details.
Also on Thursday afternoon, the Audit and Compliance Committee of the FGCU Board of Trustees will meet virtually. A full board meeting is set for September 12 in the Cohen Ballroom, and it has a packed agenda. Details about these meetings can be found on the website for the FGCU Board of Trustees.
Like so many events, last week’s Florida Board of Governors meeting had to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Idalia. It will now take place virtually on Friday, September 8. The agenda for the 2 p.m. meeting can be found on the Board of Governors’ website, and you can follow along in the proceedings through the Florida Channel.
There is certainly a lot going on across campus, and I look forward to seeing you.
Wings up and go Eagles!
September 11, 2023
Hello, Eagle Family!
What we say and how we say it is essential to our campus community, and, by now, you are aware that communication ranks very high in my priorities. Today, I am excited to share an update about the Internal Communications Committee.
I am thrilled to announce the membership of the group to all of you:
Dr. Meagan E. Baskin | Director of the Southwest Florida Leadership Institute and associate professor of Management in Lutgert College of Business
Beverly Brown | Director of operations, Office of the President
Anna Carlin | Instructional Technology Librarian
Jaclyn Chastain | Coordinator of Academic and Curriculum Support
Dr. Lisa Johnson | Associate vice president of Enrollment Management
Kyle McCurry | Assistant vice president of University Marketing & Communications
Catherine Gonzalez | Student
Dr. Chad Nelson | Program coordinator and assistant professor in Department of Communication & Philosophy
T.O. (Travell Oakes) | Assistant director of Multicultural Development Initiatives
Seana Perkins | Immunization records specialist in Student Health Services
The committee will be led by co-chairs: Pamela McCabe, the coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations, and Lyn Millner, a journalism professor in the Department of Communication & Philosophy.
The purpose of the Internal Communications Committee is to strengthen how the university provides information to students, faculty and staff. The committee is charged with understanding the types of informal and formal information channels available to the university and exploring how these channels can be leveraged in a way to better engage FGCU’s internal audience.
The group will kick off the work by hosting listening sessions with shared governance groups and launching a campus-wide survey that asks you some important questions about what you want to know and how you want to receive information. Look for additional updates from Pamela and Lyn in the coming weeks.
Let’s make it a great week! Wings Up and Go Eagles!
President Timur’s “State of the University” address - 2023 Fall Welcome Celebration
