Presidential Search

Florida Gulf Coast University will achieve national prominence in offering exceptional value in high-quality educational programs that address regional and statewide needs. Our programs, firmly grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, will employ emerging instructional technologies. Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit, graduates will be well prepared for productive lives as civically engaged and environmentally conscious citizens with successful careers, ready to pursue further education.

Approved by the FGCU Board of Trustees September 8, 2015.

Florida Gulf Coast University, a comprehensive institution of higher education, offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs of strategic importance to Southwest Florida and beyond. FGCU seeks academic excellence in the development of selected programs and centers of distinction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, health professions, business, and marine and environmental sciences. Outstanding faculty and staff supported by a strong community of advisors prepare students for gainful employment and successful lives as responsible, productive and engaged citizens. FGCU emphasizes innovative, student-centered teaching and learning, promotes and practices environmental sustainability, embraces diversity, nurtures community partnerships, values public service, encourages civic responsibility, and cultivates habits of lifelong learning and the discovery of new knowledge.

Approved by the FGCU Board of Trustees May 10, 2016.

The founding of Florida Gulf Coast University at the advent of a new century is a signal event. It comes at a moment in history when the conditions that formed and sustained American higher education are fundamentally changing, and at a time when rapid shifts wrought by technology and social complexities are altering the very nature of work, knowledge, and human relationships. As a public institution, Florida Gulf Coast University eagerly accepts the leadership opportunity and obligation to adapt to these changes and to meet the educational needs of Southwest Florida. To do so, it will collaborate with its various constituencies, listen to the calls for change, build on the intellectual heritage of the past, plan its evolution systematically for the twenty-first century, and be guided by the following principles:

• Student success is at the center of all University endeavors. The University is dedicated to the highest quality education that develops the whole person for success in life and work. Learner needs, rather than institutional preferences, determine priorities for academic planning, policies, and programs. Acceleration methods and assessment of prior and current learning are used to reduce time to degree. Quality teaching is demanded, recognized, and rewarded.
• Academic freedom is the foundation for the transmission and advancement of knowledge. The University vigorously protects freedom of inquiry and expression and categorically expects civility and mutual respect to be practiced in all deliberations.
• Diversity is a source of renewal and vitality. The University is committed to developing capacities for living together in a democracy whose hallmark is individual, social, cultural, and intellectual diversity. It fosters a climate and models a condition of openness in which students, faculty, and staff engage multiplicity and difference with tolerance and equity.
• Informed and engaged citizens are essential to the creation of a civil and sustainable society. The University values the development of the responsible self grounded in honesty, courage, and compassion, and committed to advancing democratic ideals. Through service learning requirements, the University engages students in community involvement with time for formal reflection on their experiences. Integral to the University's philosophy is instilling in students an environmental consciousness that balances their economic and social aspirations with the imperative for ecological sustainability.
• Service to Southwest Florida, including access to the University, is a public trust. The University is committed to forging partnerships and being responsive to its region. It strives to make available its knowledge resources, services, and educational offerings at times, places, in forms and by methods that will meet the needs of all its constituents. Access means not only admittance to buildings and programs, but also entrance into the spirit of intellectual and cultural community that the University creates and nourishes.
• Technology is a fundamental tool in achieving educational quality, efficiency, and distribution. The University employs information technology in creative, experimental, and practical ways for delivery of instruction, for administrative and information management, and for student access and support. It promotes and provides distance and time free learning. It requires and cultivates technological literacy in its students and employees.
• Connected knowing and collaborative learning are basic to being well educated. The University structures interdisciplinary learning experiences throughout the curriculum to endow students with the ability to think in whole systems and to understand the interrelatedness of knowledge across disciplines. Emphasis is placed on the development of teamwork skills through collaborative opportunities. Overall, the University practices the art of collective learning and collaboration in governance, operations, and planning.
• Assessment of all functions is necessary for improvement and continual renewal. The University is committed to accounting for its effectiveness through the use of comprehensive and systematic assessment. Tradition is challenged; the status-quo is questioned; change is implemented.

Approved by the Deans Council June 18, 1996

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Explore FGCU's 25th anniversary website

The history of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a visionary one built on support for providing higher education opportunities in Southwest Florida. Area citizens began the initiative to bring a state university to this part of Florida, and their early requests were quickly supported by elected officials at the local and state levels.

SW Florida gets a state university
The former Florida Board of Regents formally recommended in January 1991 the development of Florida’s 10th state university to be located in Southwest Florida, and, in May 1991, then Governor Lawton Chiles signed the legislation authorizing the new university. Southwest Florida’s support for a university was never more evident than during the next year, when private landowners offered more than 20 gift sites for the university campus. In early 1992, the Board of Regents selected the site offered by Ben Hill Griffin III and Alico, Inc. of 760 acres of land located just east of Interstate 75 between Alico and Corkscrew Roads.

University and president named
Roy McTarnaghan was named founding university president in April 1993. Initial staff was hired that summer, and the university’s academic and campus planning began in earnest. Plans for the first phase of campus construction were unveiled in February 1994, and shortly thereafter, the Florida Legislature named the institution as “Florida Gulf Coast University.” The vision for the university was one that would address emerging higher education needs for the 21st century, including the use of technology in the learning/teaching process and multi-year contracts as an alternative to faculty tenure. The Board of Regents approved an agreement in May 1995 with the United Faculty of Florida allowing FGCU to offer a contract system for faculty.

2 years from groundbreaking to opening
Campus groundbreaking was held on November 28, 1995, with more than 600 people participating in the celebratory event for Southwest Florida. With aggressive academic program and campus development schedules slated to culminate in an opening day of August 25, 1997, the early staff and faculty were busy meeting deadlines every month. Inaugural degree programs were approved by the Board of Regents in March 1996. The FGCU Foundation, a private fundraising arm of the university, gained extraordinary financial support for an institution that at the time could only be seen on a drawing board. Faculty members throughout the country were attracted to FGCU for the opportunity to offer higher education in new and innovative ways.

81 graduate in 1st commencement
The first FGCU student, Mariana Coto, was admitted in January 1997, and she participated in the historic ribbon cutting on the university’s August 25, 1997 opening day. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) awarded FGCU accreditation candidacy later that year, and a comprehensive self-study was launched. The first commencement was held in May 1998, with 81 FGCU graduates. In August 1998, the first phase of student housing opened.

Accreditation and the 2nd president
In September 1998, Founding President McTarnaghan announced his intention to retire as President on May 1, 1999. The Board of Regents launched a national search for FGCU’s second president held during the spring and summer, and the university received official notification in June 1999 that it had achieved, in record time, accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In July 1999, the Board of Regents named William C. Merwin as FGCU’s second president. President Merwin arrived on campus for his first day on September 16, 1999. He initiated a highly participatory strategic planning process for students, faculty, and staff to carry the young institution to its next stage of development.

University gets own Board of Trustees
The Florida Legislature established governing boards of trustees for state universities in 2001, and 13 members were appointed to the Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees. This governing board continues to provide leadership that is strategic, forward focused, community based, and responsive to the region and state. In January 2007, FGCU President Bill Merwin retired, and Dean of the Lutgert College of Business Richard Pegnetter was named Interim President by the FGCU Board of Trustees. A highly competitive national search for FGCU’s third president was launched.

3rd president selected on 10th anniversary
On the university’s 10th anniversary of its opening day — August 25, 2007 — the FGCU Board of Trustees selected Wilson G. Bradshaw to serve as the institution’s third president. President Bradshaw led FGCU through its second decade of development and service as a comprehensive university offering access to quality higher education in Southwest Florida. Student enrollment grew 60% from 2007 to 2016, and new undergraduate and graduate degree programs continued to be added, along with academic buildings and student housing. FGCU Athletics achieved NCAA Division I status emerged as national powerhouse in 2013 when "Dunk City" became the first #15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship.

Nearing 20th year, FGCU selects 4th president
As FGCU approached its 20th anniversary in August 2017, the FGCU Foundation exceeded a $100 million fundraising campaign to fuel continued development of scholarships, athletics and programs that contribute to student success. Graduates grew to more than 25,000, spurring the launch of 10 Alumni Association chapters across the country. President Wilson G. Bradshaw announced he would retire at the end of the 2016-17 academic year after a decade of leadership, and the Board of Trustees in February 2017 selected Michael Martin to succeed him.

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Sent on behalf of Blake Gable, the chair of FGCU’s Board of Trustees 

Please join me in congratulating Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., on being selected as the fifth president of FGCU. President-elect Timur is subject to confirmation by the Board of Governors.

Timur’s selection is historic, making her the first female president selected to lead the university.  

She currently serves as vice president and vice provost for Strategy and Program Innovation at FGCU. Through her role, Timur launched the micro-credentialing and digital badges initiative and recently led the university to receive a historic $22.9 million grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Talent Grant for workforce development in Southwest Florida. 

Originally from Turkey, Timur made the cross-continental move to Naples 25 years ago. She soon 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 master’s and bachelor degree in business administration from the University of Istanbul.  

As we celebrate this moment in FGCU’s history, we must also honor President Mike Martin, who retires after more than 50 years in higher education this summer. He has been an incredible leader, doubling our graduation rate, expanding our campus footprint with the buildout of The Water School and Lucas Hall, and maintaining steady operations despite two hurricanes and a global pandemic.   

Truly, the selection of FGCU’s president is the most critical responsibility held by the Board of Trustees. The Board made the right decision when it hired President Martin in 2017, and I am confident in our decision today. 

In closing, I would like to share my appreciation for fellow Trustee Edward Morton, who led the search efforts and worked alongside our passionate, dedicated search committee members. With the assistance of Greenwood Asher & Associates, the committee got the word out about our university. It has been a memorable experience getting to know each of the finalists, and we wish Drs. Mack, MacKinnon and Morgan all the best of luck in their future.  

Thanks also to our students, faculty, staff, business partners and community members for sharing your opinions. As we close out this year-long process, I know we have found a leader that can bring us into the next 25 years at FGCU. 

Please look out for more news about the confirmation of President-elect Timur. 

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Sent by Pamela McCabe, coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations

Good morning,

As we announced last week, FGCU’s four presidential search finalists will engage with students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders during public forums. We have updated the schedule below to include Microsoft Teams links for each forum and details about each event’s scheduled moderator. Frequently asked questions appear at the bottom of this email.

Henry Mack III, Ed.D.
Current title: Senior Chancellor, Florida Department of Education

Date: Tuesday, April 18

Physical location: Academic Building 9, Room 106

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Teams link | Moderator group: Staff Advisory Council
• 11 a.m. to noon | Teams link | Moderator group: Faculty Senate
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Teams link | Moderator group: Student Government

Aysegul Timur, Ph.D.
Current title: Vice President and Vice Provost for Strategy and Program Innovation, Florida Gulf Coast University

Date: Wednesday, April 19
Physical location: Academic Building 9, Room 106

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Teams link | Moderator group: Staff Advisory Council
• 11 a.m. to noon | Teams link | Moderator group: Student Government
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Teams link | Moderator group: Faculty Senate

Neil J. MacKinnon, Ph.D.
Current title: Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Augusta University

Date: Thursday, April 20

Physical location: Cohen Student Union, Room 201

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Teams link | Moderator group: Staff Advisory Council
• 11 a.m. to noon | Teams link | Moderator group: Faculty Senate
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Teams link | Moderator group: Student Government

Joseph A. “Jay” Morgan, Ph.D.
Current title: President, Morehead State University

Date: Tuesday, April 25

Physical location: Academic Building 9, Room 106

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Teams link | Moderator group: Staff Advisory Council
• 11 a.m. to noon | Teams link | Moderator group: Faculty Senate
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Teams link | Moderator group: Student Government

Members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and FGCU Board of Trustees are invited to attend the public forums.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during the public forum? Finalists will introduce themselves and engage in a question-and-answer session that will be moderated by a representative of one of FGCU’s shared governance groups. Audience members attending in person and virtually will be encouraged to ask the finalists questions. There will be a microphone in the room for in-person questions. Seating will be limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Can I go to any public forum? Yes. All of the forums are open to the public, and students are welcome to attend any employee sessions and employees are welcome to attend student sessions. Seating will be limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

What if I cannot attend one of the forums due to my schedule? The public forums will be recorded and available for replay as soon as they conclude. The links are available on the presidential search website, fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

How do I give feedback on each finalist? A nine-question feedback form can be accessed at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/Swd752x7fd. It includes one page for each finalist, and the survey will remain active until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 28. To enter feedback on a specific finalist, click through the form until you reach his/her section. All submissions are subject to public records law and will be provided to the Board of Trustees for review, prior to final interviews.

When will final interviews take place?  The FGCU Board of Trustees will interview the finalists during a public meeting Thursday, May 4, in the Cohen Student Union. Seating will be limited, and the meeting will be streamed live on the FGCU website. An agenda will be posted later this month. At the end of the meeting, the BOT will select the next president of FGCU, subject to confirmation by the Board of Governors.

Sincerely,

Pam

 

 

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Sent by Pamela McCabe, coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations

Good afternoon,

FGCU, in conjunction with executive search firm Greenwood Asher & Associates, is pleased to announce the dates and times for on-campus public forums for the four finalists in the presidential search.

Here is the schedule:

Henry Mack III, Ed.D.
Title: Senior Chancellor, Florida Department of Education

Tuesday, April 18

Physical location: Academic Building 9, Room 106

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• 11 a.m. to noon
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Aysegul Timur, Ph.D.
Title: Vice President and Vice Provost for Strategy and Program Innovation, Florida Gulf Coast University

Wednesday, April 19
Physical location: Academic Building 9, Room 106

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• 11 a.m. to noon
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Neil J. MacKinnon, Ph.D.
Title: Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Augusta University

Thursday, April 20

Physical location: Cohen Student Union, Room 201

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• 11 a.m. to noon
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Joseph A. “Jay” Morgan, Ph.D.
Title: President, Morehead State University

Tuesday, April 25

Physical location: Academic Building 9, Room 106

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• 11 a.m. to noon
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and FGCU Board of Trustees are invited to attend the public forums.

The public forums will be hybrid, so participants can attend virtually or in person. Each forum will be recorded, so campus stakeholders can replay the forums at a later time and date.

Virtual links, details on how to submit questions and links to feedback forms will be shared with campus and posted online next week. To submit feedback ahead of time, emails may be sent to Julie Schrodt at julieschrodt@greenwoodsearch.com.

Information submitted by the finalists as part of the application process can be found on FGCU’s presidential search website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

Final interviews will take place May 4 during a public meeting of the FGCU Board of Trustees. A selection will be made at the conclusion of the meeting, with the president-elect going before the Board of Governors on May 10 for confirmation as FGCU’s fifth president.

 

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Friday, April 7, 2023.

Sent on behalf of Edward Morton, chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

Dear colleagues,

It is clear that Florida Gulf Coast University is an exciting place to be. Once again, our search for the institution’s fifth president has produced a robust pool of highly talented, dynamic leaders. Since I last wrote, the Presidential Search Advisory Committee — comprised of dedicated trustees and representatives from faculty, staff, students and the community — has met with our search firm, Greenwood Asher & Associates, to narrow our list of top candidates. Following interviews this week with eight semi-finalists, we have agreed to advance four candidates to the FGCU Board of Trustees for hiring consideration.

The finalists are:

• Henry Mack III, Ed.D. –  Senior Chancellor, Florida Department of Education
• Neil J. MacKinnon, Ph.D. –  Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Augusta University
• Joseph A. “Jay” Morgan, Ph.D. –  President, Morehead State University
• Aysegul Timur, Ph.D. –  Vice President and Vice Provost for Strategy and Program Innovation, Florida Gulf Coast University

To view curriculum vitae and cover letters for our four finalists, please visit FGCU’s presidential search website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch. All other candidate information remains exempt and confidential, according to Section 1004.098, Florida Statutes.

In the coming weeks, each candidate will spend a full day on campus and conduct public forums to engage with students, faculty, staff and community stakeholders. Our search consultants are currently planning these events, and details will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

Final interviews will take place May 4 during a public meeting of the FGCU Board of Trustees. Deliberations and the selection of a top candidate will be made at the conclusion of this meeting, with the president-elect going before the Board of Governors on May 10 for confirmation as FGCU’s fifth president. The new president is expected to take office July 1, following the retirement of Mike Martin.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude to the members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. The work and dedication demonstrated by the committee throughout this year-long process has truly been commendable, with each member leaning into their passion for FGCU, our stakeholders and the collective vision for FGCU’s future.

We have much to be proud of at FGCU, and it is the shared belief of our committee that the finalists identified through the search process would serve our institution well. We encourage our students, faculty, staff and community members to learn more about our finalists, attend the public forums and take an active role in providing feedback on the finalists.

Feedback forms will be available for each campus forum, and emails may be sent to our search consultants at:

• Julie Schrodt | julieschrodt@greenwoodsearch.com

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.

Sent on behalf of Edward Morton, chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

Dear colleagues,

Greenwood Asher & Associates is now recruiting candidates and accepting nominations for FGCU’s fifth president. Nominations can be confidentially submitted to our executive search firm by emailing Julie Schrodt at julieschrodt@greenwoodsearch.com.

On Thursday, the FGCU Board of Trustees approved a Leadership Profile, a booklet that will be used by Greenwood Asher to recruit candidates for the presidency of FGCU, as well as a search timeline that estimates the timing of events, like candidate interviews, public campus forums and potential confirmation dates. As outlined in the timeline, we aim to bring a president-elect to the Florida Board of Governors for confirmation May 10, with a start date of July 1.

• To see the search timeline, click here.
• To see the presidential profile, click here.

Be sure to keep an eye on the presidential search website, which is regularly updated with new information as the search progresses. If you missed Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting, you can find it under the tab for “Meetings & Materials” on the presidential search website.

 

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023.

Sent by Pamela McCabe, coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations

FGCU students, faculty and staff are invited to take part in listening sessions Feb. 14-15 to gather feedback on the professional and personal qualities desired of FGCU’s next president.

The three sessions will take place through the Zoom platform. Jim Johnsen, Ed.D., and Julie Schrodt, consultants with executive search firm Greenwood Asher & Associates, will lead the discussions.

Here are the details:

Tuesday, Feb. 14

• Session 1
  Time: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81054919458
  Meeting ID: 810 5491 9458
  One tap mobile
  +13017158592,,81054919458# US (Washington DC)
  +13052241968,,81054919458# US

• Session 2
  Time: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89646758536
  Meeting ID: 896 4675 8536
  One tap mobile
  +13092053325,,89646758536# US
  +13126266799,,89646758536# US (Chicago)

Wednesday, Feb. 15

• Session 3
  Time: 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81679157714
  Meeting ID: 816 7915 7714
  One tap mobile
  +16465588656,,81679157714# US (New York)
  +16469313860,,81679157714# US

Reservations are not required. For more information, visit www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.

Sent on behalf of Edward Morton, chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

Dear colleagues,

FGCU’s Presidential Search Advisory Committee has decided to hire Greenwood Asher & Associates to assist with the ongoing search for the university’s fifth president. Procurement will now engage in negotiating a contract.

A date for the next meeting has not been announced. The livestream from today’s meeting will remain accessible on the presidential search website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

 

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.

Sent on behalf of Edward Morton, chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

Dear colleagues,

Members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee met this morning and agreed to invite all three executive search firms that responded to a Request for Quotation for presentations and interviews. A date and time for this meeting will be announced as soon as it is scheduled.

The university received proposals from:

• AGB Search
• Greenwood Asher & Associates
• WittKiefer

The proposals can be viewed in today’s agenda packet.

The livestream from today’s meeting will remain accessible on the presidential search website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

 

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

Sent on behalf of Blake Gable, the chair of FGCU’s Board of Trustees

Dear FGCU community,

As we move forward with the search for Florida Gulf Coast University’s fifth president, I want to share that we have added two new members to the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. Please join me in welcoming:

• Joseph G. Fogg III | FGCU Board of Trustees
• Shelton Weeks, Ph.D. | Director of FGCU’s Lucas Institute for Real Estate Development & Finance, where he is also an instructor

Former committee members Arie van Duijn, Ed.D., and Ashley Coone are no longer able to participate on the committee, and I want to publicly thank them for their service to the committee during the past year.

On Friday, the search committee is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom. To watch the livestream, visit fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch. Click here to view the agenda.

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

Sent on behalf of Blake Gable, the chair of FGCU’s Board of Trustees

Dear FGCU community,

During this morning’s Board of Trustees meeting, a unanimous decision was made to table any further discussion on search candidates while we reopen the recruitment and screening phase of the search for FGCU’s fifth president. Following our meeting, Robert G. Gregerson, Ph.D., announced he is not continuing his candidacy. He is the president of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

At the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, scheduled for Dec. 8, the chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee will present an updated timeline and an outline of the search process. President Mike Martin has said he is willing to extend his time at FGCU, and the Board will take action on this extension during this meeting. As they become available, details about this meeting will be shared with the campus community and posted to the presidential search website, fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

On behalf of the Board, I thank all of our students, faculty, staff and community stakeholders for their support and patience during this important moment in our university’s history.

 

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Monday, November 14, 2022.

Sent on behalf of Blake Gable, the chair of FGCU’s Board of Trustees

Dear FGCU community,

Today, we heard from Tod A. Laursen, Ph.D.,  one of our two remaining candidates for president. Dr. Laursen, who is the acting president of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, announced his plans to withdraw from consideration as he has finalized another opportunity that is a better fit for him and his family.

On behalf of FGCU and its Board of Trustees, I wish Dr. Laursen all the best in his future endeavors.

The FGCU Board of Trustees will meet as planned on Thursday, Nov. 17. 

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

Sent on behalf of Blake Gable, the chair of FGCU’s Board of Trustees

Dear FGCU community,

I regret to inform you that one of our presidential finalists, Susana Rivera-Mills, Ph.D., has decided to withdraw from consideration. She has decided to remain at Ball State University, where she serves as provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. Without a doubt, Dr. Rivera-Mills has a bright future in higher education, and it was a pleasure to host her on campus. I wish her well on behalf of FGCU and its Board of Trustees.

As we announced last week, the Board of Trustees will meet for final deliberations and the selection of FGCU’s fifth president during an emergency meeting. We have scheduled that meeting to begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17. Our decision will be between finalists Robert G. Gregerson, Ph.D., and Tod A. Laursen, Ph.D.

Please use this time to review our finalists' public forums on FGCU’s presidential search website and provide feedback to better inform the Board of Trustees’ decision. The feedback forms will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16.

• FGCU Presidential Search Finalist: Gregerson
• FGCU Presidential Search Finalist: Laursen

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.

Sent on behalf of Blake Gable, the chair of FGCU’s Board of Trustees

Dear FGCU community,

In many ways, Hurricane Ian has impacted our region, and that includes the search for FGCU’s fifth president. Although it was the intention of the Board of Trustees to catch up with the established timeline for naming our fifth president, we have decided to postpone today’s vote for about two weeks.

An emergency Board of Trustees meeting will be announced as soon as arrangements are made. Please stay tuned for more details.

We appreciate the candidates for their patience and dedication to our university. All three are incredibly impressive and well-suited to become the next president of FGCU.

We encourage our campus stakeholders to use this time to review the public forums on FGCU’s presidential search website and provide feedback to better inform the Board of Trustees’ decision. Here are the links to the AGB Search feedback forms, which have been reopened:

• FGCU Presidential Search Finalist: Gregerson
• FGCU Presidential Search Finalist: Laursen
• FGCU Presidential Search Finalist: Rivera-Mills

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Thursday, October 20, 2022.

As we announced last week, FGCU’s three presidential search finalists will engage with students, faculty, staff and community stakeholders during public forums. We have updated the schedule to include Microsoft Teams links for each forum, feedback forms for our three finalists and moderator information.

Friday, Oct. 28

Finalist: Tod A. Laursen, Ph.D.

Feedback form: FGCU Presidential Search Finalist: Laursen

Public forums: The Water School, Academic Building 9, Room 106.

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted by Staff Advisory Council
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted by Student Government Association
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted by Faculty Senate

Monday, Oct. 31

Finalist: Robert G. Gregerson, Ph.D.

Feedback form: FGCU Presidential Search Finalist: Gregerson

Public forums: The Water School, Academic Building 9, Room 106.

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted by Faculty Senate
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted by Student Government Association
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted Staff Advisory Council

Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Finalist: Susana V. Rivera-Mills, Ph.D.

Feedback form: FGCU Presidential Search Finalist: Rivera-Mills

Public forums: The Water School, Academic Building 9, Room 106.

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted by Staff Advisory Council
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted by Student Government Association
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Join the discussion virtually: Teams link | Hosted by Faculty Senate

Public forum discussion | During each public forum, the finalists will introduce themselves and engage in a question-and-answer session that will be moderated by a representative of FGCU. Audience members attending in person and virtually will be encouraged to ask the finalists questions, and questions submitted ahead of time will be read aloud by the moderators.

Email your questions ahead of time | If you are unable to attend the sessions in person or virtually and would like to submit a question to be read by a forum moderator, email Tiffany Reynolds at treynold@fgcu.edu no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27. Please include the finalist’s name and the question you have for them.

Feedback form deadline | The feedback forms are now live and close at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The information collected by AGB Search will be presented to the FGCU Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Final interviews by BOT | The Board of Trustees will interview the finalists during a public meeting that is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom, Room 203. It will be streamed on the FGCU website. At the culmination of the meeting, the BOT will select the next president of FGCU, subject to confirmation by the Board of Governors.

For more information | Feedback surveys, public forum links and all information submitted by the finalists as part of the application process can be found on FGCU’s presidential search website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.

Prior to Hurricane Ian’s landfall in Southwest Florida, FGCU announced three finalists for our presidential search. Due to the impact of the storm, the search process was temporarily delayed until we could reschedule campus forums and final interviews.

Today, we’re pleased to announce each of our finalists will have a day on campus, where they will engage with students, faculty, staff and community stakeholders during public forums. The events will be hybrid, so participants can attend virtually or in person.

Here is the schedule:

Friday, Oct. 28
Finalist: Tod A. Laursen, Ph.D.

Public forums:

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 31
Finalist: Robert G. Gregerson, Ph.D.

Public forums:

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Finalist: Susana V. Rivera-Mills, Ph.D.

Public forums:

• 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

If you plan to attend in person, the forums will take place at The Water School, Academic Building 9, Room 106. Virtual links will be shared next week for Microsoft Teams.

Information submitted by the finalists as part of the application process can be found on FGCU’s presidential search website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch. Feedback surveys for each finalist will be distributed to campus ahead of the campus forums, and the feedback will be presented to FGCU’s Board of Trustees.

The FGCU Board of Trustees will now conduct final interviews Wednesday, Nov. 2. At the culmination of this meeting, Trustees will select one of the finalists as president-elect.

This individual will be presented to the Florida Board of Governors Thursday, Nov. 10, for confirmation as FGCU’s fifth president. An official start date is tentatively slated for January 2023.

Please refer to the FGCU presidential search website for more information.

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Monday, September 26, 2022.

Dear colleagues,

Members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee conducted semi-finalist interviews with ten talented and impressive candidates who want to become FGCU’s next president. At the conclusion of the interviews, the committee voted to advance three of the candidates to the FGCU Board of Trustees for hiring consideration.

They are:

• Robert G. Gregerson, Ph.D. –  President, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
• Tod A. Laursen, Ph.D. – Acting President, SUNY Polytechnic Institute
• Susana V. Rivera-Mills, Ph.D. – Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Ball State University

All information submitted by the finalists as part of the application process can be found on FGCU’s presidential search website, https://www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch. All other candidate information will remain exempt and confidential, according to Section 1004.098, Florida Statutes.

FGCU received an outstanding response to our call for applicants, and our finalists represent the top and emerging leaders in the field of higher education. We are looking forward to bringing these accomplished, talented and innovative individuals to campus to meet with our stakeholders.

Stay tuned for details about public forums, in which students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders can meet the finalists. The forums will take place Oct. 12-14. I encourage all of you to take an active role in learning about the finalists and what they envision for FGCU’s future.

In closing, I want to express my appreciation to the 13 members of the search committee who worked alongside AGB Search to vet the qualifications, experience and visions of the applicants. We received an incredible response to our call for applicants, which proves our institution’s value is seen nationwide. The committee’s hard work has led to this exciting moment in FGCU history, and I thank you for your service.

Sincerely,

Edward Morton
Chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

 

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Monday, August 1, 2022.

Dear colleagues,

Members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee met Friday for a brief and productive meeting, and I am writing to share what we discussed.

COMPENSATION | The Segal Group, the executive compensation firm hired to perform a competitive market analysis for presidential pay, is adjusting the scope of its peer group. The changes reflect feedback from the search committee and the FGCU Board of Trustees.

The changes include:

·         Removing private institutions from FGCU’s peer group

·         Incorporating the University of North Florida, as well as other universities in Florida, to the peer group

·         Seeking out schools with higher Carnegie Classifications that are more closely aligned to FGCU’s enrollment numbers.

TIMELINE | The search committee agreed to revise the tentative semi-finalists interviews, reducing the timeframe by one day by taking September 19 off the calendar. The semi-finalist interviews are now scheduled for September 20-22, with the committee still scheduled to use September 22 to review candidates and recommend three qualified applicants for final interviews. This process will be exempt from Sunshine and will be closed to the public, pursuant to Section 1004.098(2)(a), Florida Statutes. The final interviews will be handled by the Board of Trustees in October following public forums with students, employees and other campus stakeholders.

SEARCH DETAILS | AGB Search reported that nearly 50 applications have already been submitted for the president position, and our consultants believe dozens more could be submitted over the coming weeks.

NEXT MEETING | During the committee’s next meeting, which is scheduled for September 1, members will review applicants and select semi-finalists to interview. Pursuant to Section 1004.098(2)(a), Florida Statutes, this meeting is exempt from Sunshine and will be closed to the public.

A livestream of Friday's meeting can be found online at www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch. The search website is updated with new information as the search progresses.

Sincerely,

Edward Morton
Chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

 FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Thursday, June 16, 2022.

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited to announce that we have officially launched the search for FGCU’s fifth president. Now through August 15, candidates can apply for the position by contacting our executive search firm, AGB Search. Our intent is to present the president-elect at the November Board of Governors meeting, with the new leader taking office in time for the spring 2023 semester.

Several search-related items came up during Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting, including reviewing AGB Search’s marketing plan and approving the search timeline. Trustees recommended the inclusion of the Chicago Principles as something a president would value in the presidential profile, and agreed to a preliminary compensation range for total renumeration that was proposed by Segal Group, the executive compensation firm assisting with the presidential search.

To see the search timeline, click here.

To see the presidential profile, click here.

The next meeting of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee starts at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 29, in Sugden Hall (Sugden Resort & Hospitality Management), Room 114. A livestream will be available for those who cannot attend in person, and additional details about the meeting will be shared closer to the event.

Be sure to keep an eye on the presidential search website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch, which is regularly updated with new information as the search progresses.

Sincerely,

Edward Morton
Chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

Dear Colleagues,

The search for FGCU’s next leader is moving forward, and we anticipate launching the recruitment phase of the search in mid-June. Pushing this effort along is the Presidential Search Advisory Committee, which met Monday morning with consultants from AGB Search. The meeting was productive, and much of the work accomplished will go before the FGCU Board of Trustees on June 14.

Here are a few highlights from the committee meeting:

• COMPENSATION | The search committee reviewed the preliminary presidential compensation report prepared by the Segal Group, whose representatives were on the line to answer questions. The committee voted to recommend that the FGCU Board of Trustees approve the preliminary analysis and decide a pay range at its next meeting, with the potential inclusion of the University of West Florida as an extra member of FGCU’s peer group. The final document will be updated by Aug. 31 with a final peer group report, and it will include any relevant pay updates to The Chronicle of Higher Education’s executive compensation database.
• CRITERIA |Members of the search committee critiqued the Leadership Profile, a booklet created by the university to advertise the presidential position, as well as language proposed by AGB Search for the position criteria, which will form the basis of the job description for the next president. The committee approved the two documents, subject to comments made during the meeting and those that will be supplied to AGB Search consultants and Pamela McCabe. The two documents will be combined, with the final document scheduled to go before the Board of Trustees on June 14.
• ADVERTISING | A marketing plan, detailing where the presidential job description will be advertised, was approved by the committee. This plan will be submitted to the Board of Trustees.
• TIMELINE | The search committee reviewed and approved a search timeline, which will go before the Board of Trustees. The current draft can be viewed under “timeline” in the committee’s agenda packet: LINK.

For more information or to view a recording of the meeting, visit the FGCU presidential search website at www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

Sincerely,

Edward Morton
Chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

 

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

Good afternoon,

Thank you to all of our students, faculty and staff who participated in listening sessions for the presidential search. Your feedback will guide AGB Search and the Presidential Search Advisory Committee with recruiting candidates for FGCU’s top leadership position.

For those who missed the forums, please fill out AGB’s online survey. It will remain open until June.

Be prepared to answer the following questions:

• What are the challenges and opportunities for FGCU’s next president?
• What qualifications and attributes should FGCU’s next president possess?
• What does success look like in the next 3 to 5 years?

You can also share your feedback and make nominations via email at FGCUPresident@agbsearch.com. Visit www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch for more information.

Sincerely,

Pam

Pamela McCabe  |  Coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations

Office of the President

 FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Thursday, April 21, 2022.

Florida Gulf Coast University students, employees and community stakeholders are invited to take part in listening sessions to gather feedback on the professional and personal qualities desired of FGCU’s next president.

Each session will be led by consultants with AGB Search, the executive search firm that has been hired to assist the Presidential Search Advisory Committee with recruiting FGCU’s fifth president. The events are hybrid, so participants can attend virtually or in person at FGCU’s campus, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers.

Here are the details:

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2022
Location: Sugden Hall, Room 114

• FGCU employees
  Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  Microsoft Teams: https://tinyurl.com/h9w9tyfs
• FGCU students
  Time: 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
  Microsoft Teams: https://tinyurl.com/5n83ekvh
• Community forum
  Time: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  Microsoft Teams: https://tinyurl.com/3x22cz7p

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2022
Location: Edwards Hall, Room 112

• FGCU employees
  Time: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  Microsoft Teams: https://tinyurl.com/yv9h29nj
• FGCU students
  Time: 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
  Microsoft Teams: https://tinyurl.com/yc7kc8fw
• Community forum
  Time: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  Microsoft Teams: https://tinyurl.com/hatf9bx2

Please be aware that members of the FGCU Board of Trustees and Presidential Search Advisory Committee are invited to attend these sessions.

Reservations are not required. Community members should stop at the parking information booth at the main entrance to campus on FGCU Boulevard to obtain a temporary parking pass. Follow event signs to find nearby parking. A map of campus is available at www.fgcu.edu/campusmap. 

If you are unable to attend these listening sessions, please be aware that AGB Search is collecting input through an online survey. This survey, accessible at www.surveymonkey.com/r/FGCU-Pres-Input, will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3.

For more information, visit www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch.

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.

Dear Colleagues,

Today, Board of Trustees Chair Blake Gable issued his charge to the 13-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee, formally kicking off the search for our fifth president.

In summary, we are to:

• Define the professional and personal qualities for the next president of FGCU with input and guidance from the greater FGCU community;
• Develop and execute an inclusive, robust and transparent search to bring in the most diverse pool of highly qualified candidates for this position;
• Operate a respectful and honest screening process that ensures we are meeting the high standards of FGCU stakeholders, the citizens of Florida and state requirements to fill the president’s seat;
• And, finally, submit more than two qualified applicants to the Board of Trustees for final interviews. The Board of Trustees will then select a new president for FGCU, subject to final confirmation by the Board of Governors.

To accomplish this charge, the committee will work alongside AGB Search consultants Melissa Trotta, Sally Mason and Garry Owens. The consultants reviewed the scope of work and estimated timeline for the search, which proposes a second committee meeting in July, following listening sessions and feedback opportunities for all university stakeholders. The goal is to present a president-elect to the Board of Governors in November.

During the meeting, FGCU staff offered an overview of Florida’s Sunshine Law, public records and search guidelines. Speakers included Vee Leonard, vice president and general counsel; Sara Stensrud, senior associate vice president of Administrative Services & Finance; and Precious Gunter, chief equity, ethics and compliance officer and Title IX coordinator.

A recording of the full meeting is available on FGCU’s presidential search website. Regular updates about the search process will be posted to this website, and I encourage all members of the campus community to take an active role in the work ahead.

Sincerely,

Edward Morton
Chair of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

Good afternoon,

The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to hire AGB Search to assist the newly assembled Presidential Search Advisory Committee with recruiting our fifth president.

Consultants with AGB will be introduced to the committee during a kickoff meeting that is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom. A live-stream video will be available through FGCU’s presidential website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch, where the meeting’s agenda and public comment instructions have been posted.

AGB was one of five executive search firms to submit proposals to the university. The others were Diversified Search Group, Myers McRae, R. William Funk & Associates and Witt/Kieffer Inc. The Executive Search Firm Advisory Committee invited three of the firms – AGB, Diversified and Myers McRae – for presentations and interviews at its March 24, 2022, meeting, and the committee unanimously agreed to recommend AGB to the FGCU Board of Trustees for approval.

The committee’s members were Sara Stensrud, senior associate vice president of Administrative Services & Finance; Alice Wheelwright, associate vice president of Marketing & Communications; Gerard Carrington, associate vice president of University Advancement; Greg Tolley, executive director of The Water School; and Blake Gable, chair of the Board of Trustees.

In similar news, Chair Gable announced during today’s Board of Trustees meeting that FGCU has selected The Segal Company as the executive compensation firm for the presidential search.

FGCU's Board of Trustees encourages members of the campus community and all university stakeholders to play an active role in the presidential search. Please keep an eye on the presidential search website for more information about the search and the work of the committee.

Sincerely,

Pam

Pamela McCabe  |  Coordinator of University Communications & Media Relations

Office of the President

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FGCU sent the following message to the university community on Monday, April 11, 2022.

Dear FGCU community,

One of the most critical responsibilities held by the Board of Trustees is the selection of Florida Gulf Coast University’s president. While I would love to see President Mike Martin surprise us with another year or two, his intentions to retire at the end of the year are clear. As we move forward with the arduous task of finding our fifth president, I am pleased to announce the formation of a Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC).

As required by the Florida Board of Governors, PSAC consists of a broadly representative group of stakeholders for the university. This includes students and alumni, faculty and staff, community partners and local leaders who depend on FGCU’s mission, vibrancy and dedication to offering high-quality educational opportunities. All have agreed to dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to recruit the best candidates for our top leadership position, and they will be led through the process by Trustee Edward Morton, who has agreed to chair the committee.

Presidential Search Advisory Committee

• Edward Morton (chair) | Vice chair of FGCU Board of Trustees
• Grace Brannigan | FGCU Board of Trustees; FGCU Student Government president
• Joseph Catti | Founder, director, chairman and CEO of FineMark Holdings, Inc., and FineMark National Bank & Trust
• Ashley Coone | Founder and president of Ashley Coone Consulting; DeSoto County Board of Commissioners
• Richard P. Eide, Jr. | FGCU Board of Trustees
• Darlene Jordan | Florida Board of Governors
• Gail Markham | Partner, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.
• Tina Matte | Of counsel, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold
• Luis Rivera | FGCU Board of Trustees
• Rebecca Totaro | FGCU associate dean of Curriculum & Assessment; English professor
• Arie van Duijn | FGCU professor of physical therapy
• Kristen Vanselow | FGCU assistant vice president for Innovation Education and Partnerships
• Charles Winton | President of Estero Bay Chevrolet 

The first PSAC meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom. A livestream video will be available through FGCU’s presidential website, www.fgcu.edu/presidentialsearch, where you can also find the meeting’s agenda and public comment instructions.

During the coming months, the committee will develop a search timeline, create a position profile, assist with marketing the position, vet applicants, interview the most qualified candidates and provide the Board of Trustees with more than two qualified applicants for consideration.

FGCU’s Board of Trustees will then conduct final interviews and select a new president for FGCU, subject to final confirmation by the Board of Governors.

It is vital for all FGCU stakeholders to get involved in the search process so we can find the right person to lead this university into its next 25 years. The work begins now, Eagles.

Sincerely,

Blake Gable
Chair of FGCU’s Board of Trustees