Your University: The FGCU Podcast

01:30 FGCU Growth Story

03:58 Economic Impact

06:32 The Three C’s of Values

07:40 Service Learning Pathways

09:12 Advisory and Mentorship

10:56 Carnegie Recognition

12:39 Open Data for Community

16:14 RERI and Student Skills

19:14 Explore Campus Highlights

23:30 Bridging Campus and Community

25:54 FGCU Is Your University

27:39 Final Thanks and Signoff

[00:00:00]President Aysegul Timur: We open our doors to our community in so many ways. We create new knowledge. You come here, you, you know, listen to lecture series, you meet with our students, and our alumni are in our community. We become Your University."

[00:00:26]Katie Cribbs: This is Your University: The FGCU Podcast, where we talk to the people on campus making a difference in the Southwest Florida community and beyond. From research and the arts to student success and athletics, we're uncovering the stories impacting you. I'm your host, Katie Cribbs.

Today, we're sitting down with the fifth and current president of Florida Gulf Coast University, Dr. Aysegul Timur. President Timur, welcome.

[00:00:55]President Aysegul Timur: Thank you. Thank you.

[00:00:57]Katie Cribbs: We're so excited to have you today. Now, you are the fifth president of Florida Gulf Coast University, and I say only the fifth because we're still considered a very young university.

We opened our doors in 1997, so we're going into our 29th year this coming fall. We'll be 30 a year after that. Do you feel like we've hit our stride?

[00:01:19]President Aysegul Timur: We are still, in higher education terms, a very young institution. And it has been so wonderful to see the growth of the institution over the years. And as you may know,

What you see at FGCU, the growth of our institution, is how Southwest Florida has been growing over time. So, it is just so wonderful to see the marriage, the engagement, and connection to our community all the way.

[00:02:18]Katie Cribbs: Yeah, and before you stepped foot on FGCU's campus in official administrative role, right, you were a community member for-

[00:02:25]President Aysegul Timur: Yes.

[00:02:25]Katie Cribbs: ... over two decades.

[00:02:27]President Aysegul Timur: Yes.

[00:02:27]Katie Cribbs: You really saw this university, as a community member, grow. What are some of the biggest changes you've seen over the years?

[00:02:34]President Aysegul Timur: So, FGCU has been very responsive to the changes that has been happening in our region. Look at all of the programs that we developed, 66 undergraduate degree programs, 27 master's degree programs, and seven doctoral programs. They're all in alignment with Southwest Florida. So, FGCU has been responding to that growth with program development and workforce alignment, applied research and service to our communities in every step that we have been taking in this institution.

[00:03:21]Katie Cribbs: Do you feel like that's unique? You know, everybody says higher ed just moves at a glacial pace. And I feel like we've really just skyrocketed.

[00:03:29]President Aysegul Timur: Yes, because we started this institution with our founding president and founding community members in such a way that we are dynamic, very innovative. And being, again, a young institution, we have done things that, you know, all the way from the beginnings to today, has been so innovative.

[00:03:57]Katie Cribbs: I'm going to go take a look at your background. You're an economist. So, for the viewers and listeners that don't know, you are an economist. You look at the numbers, you look at the data. How important is Florida Gulf Coast University to the local economy when you look at the numbers?

[00:04:14]President Aysegul Timur: We are, FGCU, as the regional comprehensive university,skilled workforce provider to Southwest Florida. That is the biggest economic impact that I can begin with. Think about all the programs that I mentioned. So, FGCU alumni are the nurses of our community. They are the biologists of our community. They are teachers in our community.

I'm so proud of our alumni in the community who are living, playing and working in our community, and some of them are raising their own family here in Southwest Florida.

So, think about our alumni being, you know, financial advisors in our community or our engineers, software engineers, civil engineers, construction. Our alumni giving back to our community. I think that is so amazing, you know, achieving our regional comprehensive mission through our alumni.

And of course, we have a significant economic impact. You know, we employ, we spend money as an institution in our community, so when we estimate it, it is almost $600 million economic impact in the region. But most importantly, we are partners in this region.

[00:05:38]Katie Cribbs: I like that. We really are partners.

[00:05:40]President Aysegul Timur: Yes. So, we work with our business community here. We work with our nonprofits here. We work with our hospital system here. We work with our, you know, public school system here. So, that exchange is so important because when you collaborate, when you partner, you achieve the greater service, the greater things in our community. So, I think that's what we do. We are the economic engine of Southwest Florida in many different ways.

[00:06:13]Katie Cribbs: And we're big collaborators. We'll hear you say this time and time again. It's important to collaborate. We've got to keep collaborating. What are some of the recent collaborations that we've done at Florida Gulf Coast University to really move our university forward and the community forward too?

[00:06:29]President Aysegul Timur: Thank you. That's a great question. I reference it all the time. I think it is coming from our values. We have three values. We call them three Cs. Curiosity. You know, we are a curious community. We are in higher education. We ask questions all day, every day, why? And then the second value we have at FGCU is collaboration, and the third one is commitment. Commitment to our community, commitment to our region, commitment to our students.

But the collaboration and partnership is the way that we serve our students better. So, one collaboration is, as you know, from the beginning of this institution, we said service-learning is going to be part of what we do.

So, what it means is that students,

[00:08:24]Katie Cribbs: And it's great. It provides an economic win for them as well. It provides a learning opportunity. Maybe they decide what kind of future they want because of this service-learning, right? It just kind of... It's a feedback loop.

[00:08:35]President Aysegul Timur: Absolutely. And sometimes these service-learning opportunities grow into, maybe internships for our students, right? Internships are very important for workforce and academic alignment, how students learn things in the classroom, and they go back to the workforce, and they apply through those internship opportunities. So, that's another way of collaborating with our community, collaborating with our partners.

[00:09:06]Katie Cribbs: That's a huge one.

[00:09:07]President Aysegul Timur: That is a huge one, I know. But collaboration also happens through our community members for them to involve in our college advisory boards, right? They bring their expertise, years of expertise, to our colleges and helping us make the best curriculum possible for our students.

[00:09:31]Katie Cribbs: Again, it's going back to that community, though, right? It is saying, "Come and give us your input. Sit on this board. Tell us what matters to you and how we can turn out students that fit that need," right?

[00:09:43]President Aysegul Timur: Absolutely. We also collaborate with our community for mentorship opportunities for our students.

[00:09:50]Katie Cribbs: That's going really well, I hear.

[00:09:51]President Aysegul Timur: Yes. Yes. So, the mentorship program is growing exponentially. Even some of our community members reaching out to me individually, looking for those opportunities because we really have special students.

And so, you can see that we have so many ways collaborate with our community, but, you know, from individuals to our business community to our retired community, and collaboration also for them to come to our campus, attend our lecture series, attend our FGCU Academy. So, having them around us is such a great experience for our students, our faculty and our staff.

So, you can see how FGCU is very special, the way that we engage with our community all day and every day.

[00:10:50]Katie Cribbs: I think that is special. I love that about FGCU.

[00:10:53]President Aysegul Timur: Thank you.

[00:10:55]Katie Cribbs: , one of the ways that we are known for our collaboration and community service, we just received the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. It's basically a way of saying, "Hey, FGCU, you're doing a great job at civic engagement, service-learning, and we're recognizing you for that." That's a big deal.

[00:11:16]President Aysegul Timur: Yes.

And from here, I want to give a big shout-out to FGCU community and congratulate them for their dedication to community engagement here in Southwest Florida and beyond.

[00:11:55]Katie Cribbs: I really feel like we are so lucky to have colleagues and coworkers who really value that in our community.

[00:12:04]President Aysegul Timur: So, if you look at FGCU, teaching and learning is a function, right? But at the same time, we are, you know, an institution that applied research, our faculty generating new knowledge is this, you know, second piece, and the third one is, again, service. Service comes in many different forms, and community engagement is how we are servicing, again, our students and our community.

[00:12:37]Katie Cribbs: One of the other ways I love that we give back to the community, I don't even want to say give back, but that we serve the community, is by providing data and information for free and updated. And I want to go over some of those ways because I truly... Listen, I've just picked three, but I'm sure there are so many, and I'm sorry I'm only picking three.

But the one I really enjoy from The Water School is the water quality monitoring dashboard. You know, we live in paradise, and the only way we can keep it being a paradise is if we all care about the environment and to make sure it stays as pristine as possible. And all up and down the Gulf, they have all of these sensors constantly monitoring our water quality, and anybody at any time of the day can jump on their website for free and get this data, and look at this data and make decisions. You know, we're not hoarding it. We're not saying we're going to keep it to ourselves and publish.

[00:13:33]President Aysegul Timur: Yes. Yes.

[00:13:34]Katie Cribbs: We're giving it to you all so you can have that. I think that's so special.

[00:13:39]President Aysegul Timur: That is very special, but think about this one in a larger scope, larger perspective. The data that we collect, we work on it, and then it turns into different research questions that our faculty and our students are working on. Undergraduate research is big at FGCU, and that kind of research informs our state leaders to make policy decisions in Southwest Florida and beyond, in the State of Florida.

But beyond that, think about it, that research also helps nationally. That research also helps internationally. We are contributing to new knowledge creation for the entire universe. We are part of it. So, I'm so proud of the data that we are collecting at that scope.

[00:14:36]Katie Cribbs: And then another one, the Waller, Weeks, and Johnson Rental Index, and the Weeks is for Dr. Shelton Weeks, the Lucas Professor of Real Estate at FGCU. Love that. I used that many moons ago when I was a journalist to look at what was happening in our area when we saw an affordability crisis.

Rents were skyrocketing, we didn't have enough, people were moving down. And just to be able to see that and understand and look at that data again, it's out there, they're putting it out there, they're updating it, that provided a service. It allowed us to see that big picture and say, "Okay, what are we going to do about that?"

[00:15:13]President Aysegul Timur: I cannot tell you how many people came to me and said how much they appreciate the data that they receive from the Lutgert College of Business. So, we really help, you know, again, a lot of people to make decisions personally and professionally, and, of course, it is a big economic indicator for us, right?

Real estate is big in Southwest Florida and in the State of Florida. It is important to, you know, see the business cycle, how the data is really impacting what is coming next for individuals and professionals to make decisions.

[00:15:53]Katie Cribbs: Okay, and the last one, I promise. I promise. Because I can't name them all.

[00:15:57]President Aysegul Timur: But you know that I'm a data geek.

[00:15:58]Katie Cribbs: I am too, though. I love it. I am not a numbers person per se, right? I didn't go into math or anything, but I love trying to tease out those patterns and see what's happening.

[00:16:07]President Aysegul Timur: Yes, yes, yes.

[00:16:08]Katie Cribbs: And I think it makes us all better-informed citizens too. But the Regional Economic Research Institute, RERI... Am I wrong? But when you came to FGCU, you were involved in the RERI.

[00:16:19]President Aysegul Timur: Yes. Yes. I'm still involved. You know, even as the president, I work with our director very closely, Dr. Amir Neto. And so, I'm going to open a parentheses here and tell you a story. And when I first arrived to Southwest Florida 28 years ago, I immediately started looking into economic indicators and so many things.

And several years later, you know, I discovered the Regional Economic Research Institute at FGCU. And at that time, I believe Dr. Gary Jackson was the director, and I think he was the founding director of RERI. So, even though I was in another institution, we were collaborating on so many different levels of data. We were doing a lot of presentations together.

So, my involvement in RERI way back probably, you know, 20 years, because that data quality is so important and that's where RERI really provides that kind of quality data, meaningful and also data that based on collected data points from so many various resources that informing our community at many levels.

[00:17:50]Katie Cribbs: And they have such great data points on there. I love it. They have everything on there. And even if you're, like, "Oh, it's so overwhelming," they give you a nice summary every month that you can read and see the patterns they're finding and everything there. It's all in... We'll link everything for everybody to check out this good info.

[00:18:06]President Aysegul Timur: Yes. And many of our students work at RERI, so I am very proud at how much our students involved and they know how to turn complex data in a practical interpretation because they are the students of FGCU. They know to take that information, analyze, synthesize and make it relevant to the individuals.

[00:18:32]Katie Cribbs: Do you like seeing that when they come in through the door, and they start as a first-year student, to then when they graduate, and being able to have that knowledge base when they leave, to be able to turn that data around and analyze it?

[00:18:46]President Aysegul Timur: Yes, that is a reward. You know, for hours and years that we work with our students, seeing them, you know, starting our institution and graduating with knowledge, skills and abilities and really going to the workforce very, you know, strongly prepared for any opportunities to come to their way is a rewarding experience for all of us.

[00:19:12]Katie Cribbs: Now, I know that you like to walk around campus. You're a big walker, right?

[00:19:18]President Aysegul Timur: Yes, I am.

[00:19:19]Katie Cribbs: So, for the viewers or listeners out there that maybe just haven't been to our campus… I don't know how you couldn't have come to ou but if you haven't, what are some places they can park and walk around and really experience the campus? Do you have a couple that you could just, kind of, tell them, "Definitely hit out, hit this place, hit the library." What are your recommendations?

[00:19:40]President Aysegul Timur: Well, FGCU is a special place, so I don't have my I am everywhere. I have that reputation. So, I think one important thing is that you're going to start from one boardwalk to another. So, there are several of them on our campus, and you will enjoy all these natural trails that we have and, you know, walk around the academic corridor while you can see all these community members' names on our buildings.

And then you can pick a few students to say hi, maybe have a short conversation with our faculty members or staff. You will see that this institution, every corner, live and breathe student success. So, I invite our entire community to come and walk around and know Your University, FGCU. And we're the only comprehensive university in Southwest Florida, and we are everybody's university, and I hope that our community members come walk around and meet with us.

And maybe even go to one of our restaurants here, maybe Boardwalk, or maybe go to Cohen Student Union and get a snack, or maybe go to South Village, our cafeteria, to have a cup of coffee with a student. There are so many ways that you can engage with Your University.

[00:21:19]Katie Cribbs: So many ways. You just named just a few, but one of the biggest ways people can come out and really enjoy it is to come and see one of our many athletic sports—we're Division I, 15 Division I teams—or our many, many, many productions from art to theatre to-

[00:21:37]President Aysegul Timur: Music.

[00:21:37]Katie Cribbs: ... music. I mean, you're at, I think, all of them. I don't know how you do it. Close to all. Why do you show up? Why do you enjoy them?

[00:21:46]President Aysegul Timur: Those are my me-times. You know, to me, seeing how students are reflecting their journey at FGCU, even at sporting events, watching our student-athletes, you know, in a competition versus seeing our talented students performing in our theatre, music, or seeing them in the art gallery for their, you know, art pieces, their production, and having conversations with them is why I do this job and see our students, and they're growing up in this institution.

Remember,

[00:23:10]Katie Cribbs: You know what? I kind of feel like there's a misconception out there where... And maybe this is true for a lot, or even some college presidents, where they just, kind of, stay on that campus, and they're just involved in that campus. And you are very involved in our campus, showing up to all of these events.

But you also take it outside of our campus loop road, into the community in which you live, and you're very involved in that community, the broader Southwest Florida community as well. Again, I'm going to ask you how you find that time, but also, why is that so important to you to make sure you bridge that gap?

[00:23:45]President Aysegul Timur: Yeah. So, we are a regional comprehensive university. Our identity is outfacing to our community, align with our community, partner with our community and bring them to our institution.

And I think what I do in our community is reflection of who we are and our identity. And I believe that in higher education, the more you partner with the business community, our nonprofit community, and our government agencies, again, we know what is happening in the workplaces, so we can bring that to the classroom, and I can make that connection, how we are aligning our academics and our workforce development together.

They sponsor some of our events, we sponsor their events, and that's how we grow and we do things together. So, I feel that being part of this community, Katie, you know that I've been here for 28 years, and I call Southwest Florida as my hometown.

[00:25:13]Katie Cribbs: We are your hometown.

[00:25:15]President Aysegul Timur: Yes, we are. And FGCU is Southwest Florida's university, and to me, that connection is part of my job. It's part of our jobs. And I am very intentional, the way that we engage with our community.

[00:25:33]Katie Cribbs: We lift each other up.

[00:25:34]President Aysegul Timur: Yes. Oh, I like that. I will use that phrase.

[00:25:38]Katie Cribbs: I won't trademark it. You can have it.

[00:25:38]President Aysegul Timur: Okay.

[00:25:40]Katie Cribbs: What haven't we said yet about Your University? And when I say “Your University,” again, you just said that it's all of Southwest Florida's university. So, what haven't we said, and what do you want people to know?

[00:25:52]President Aysegul Timur: You know, over the past year, I've been doing this “Your University” presentations across Southwest Florida. You know, when I first say, you know, "FGCU is Your University," I can see some people are like, "Oh, I did not graduate from FGCU. It's not my university." And I'm like, "But you're here now in Southwest Florida.

We open our doors to our community in so many ways. We create new knowledge. You come here, you, you know, listen to lecture series, you meet with our students, and our alumni are in our community. We become Your University." And once I start that conversation, everybody's like, "Yes, FGCU is our university," and I love hearing that.

And if you are today in Southwest Florida, yes, FGCU is Your University.

[00:26:54]Katie Cribbs: And we're accessible, too.

[00:26:57]President Aysegul Timur: Yes. Yes.

[00:26:58]Katie Cribbs: So, come on down, visit us, see what we have to offer. You'll fall in love with it.

[00:27:04]President Aysegul Timur: And subscribe FGCU 360. You can get all the uh, news about what is happening at Your University, and you can also see the schedule of events, athletic events, or music events, or art events or lecture series, and you can also audit classes at FGCU if you are over 60 years old.

[00:27:31]President Aysegul Timur: Yes, for free, absolutely.

[00:27:33]Katie Cribbs: Well, along with being an economist, I think you have another job title, marketer, we can add to your name. But Dr. Aysegul Timur, it's been an absolute pleasure. The fifth president of Florida Gulf Coast University here. Thank you so much for being on Your University: The FGCU Podcast.

[00:27:49]President Aysegul Timur: Thank you so much, and as always, Wings Up and Go Eagles!

[00:27:54]Katie Cribbs: Thanks for listening to Your University: The FGCU Podcast. We're proud of our connection with the Southwest Florida community and can't wait for you to explore all we have to offer. Learn how to engage with us by visiting fgcu.edu/youruniversity.

• President Timur | FGCU Office of the President Profile
• FGCU Water Quality Monitoring
• FGCU's Rental Index
• Regional Economic Research Institute | FGCU