Gabriella Mateo | Staff Writer
Florida Lt. Governor Nuñez was chosen as interim president on February 7th, 2025 in an nearly unanimous vote by the FIU Board of Trustees, after president Jessel decided not to extend his three-year contract. Nuñez will begin her tenure February 17th.
Students chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, Jeanette Nuñez has got to go”. The protest to her appointment in GC Lawns was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, Herpetology Club, and Young Democratic Socialists of America.
Nuñez has been criticized for her close relation to Governor Ron DeSantis, with some believing her appointment was a political power play by the Governor to assert his influence over higher education.
Faculty who attended were seen wearing shirts saying “United Faculty of Florida, FIU Stronger together”, while students held “NO TO NUNEZ” signs and chanted “Nuñez, Nuñez, can’t you see, is this not hypocrisy”.
“We have the right to elect, or choose, our next president. That right was taken from us and it’s not right,” said Clinical Assistant Professor Sherrie Beeson, who teaches Social Studies Education at FIU and was seen at the protest.
The only board member to vote against Nuñez’s appointment was Faculty Senate Chair Noel C. Barengo, an associate professor at the Wertheim College of Medicine, due to voiced disagreements over Nuñez’s political ties.
“I think the Board of Trustees does whatever the higher powers in the government tells them to do and they don’t care about what students think,” said student Emily Bermudez, member of the Pride Student Union.
Board Chair Rogelio Tovar said Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office contacted him and asked him to consider Nuñez for the position of the next FIU president.
“It’s obvious the governor wants to put his own people in place and have more oversight over how we teach, what we teach, and who we teach.” said professor Beeson when asked about Nuñez’ position.
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