As the sole contender to become the next president of the University of South Florida, Moez Limayem spoke to the school community on all three campuses.<\/p>\n
Limayem, currently the president of the\u00a0University of North Florida<\/a>, has deep ties to Tampa.<\/p>\n Before taking the helm at UNF in 2022, he served as dean of the USF Muma College of Business for a decade. In that role, he raised more than $126 million in private donations for the college, including a $25 million gift from Pam and Les Muma in 2014.<\/p>\n At the time, it was the\u00a0largest gift<\/a>\u00a0in the university\u2019s history.<\/p>\n Speaking to a Tampa audience Monday morning, Limayem said if confirmed he would \u201cspend significant amount of time forging these partnerships\u201d with businesses and organizations, especially as state and federal funding declines.<\/p>\n ALSO READ:\u00a0A former USF dean is tapped to be its next president<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSitting back, relaxing and thinking that NIH and NSF and many others will continue funding us to the same level, I think is a big mistake,\u201d Limayem said, referring to the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation.<\/p>\n As schools across the nation experienced federal funding cuts, Florida universities\u00a0face additional scrutiny at the state level<\/a>\u00a0over certain research grants on topics like diversity, equity and inclusion, climate change and misinformation.<\/p>\n Journey to Tampa<\/p>\n In his opening statement, Limayem described a \u201cmodest upbringing\u201d in Tunisia that taught him to value education.<\/p>\n He eventually won a full-ride scholarship to the University of Minnesota, where he earned his MBA and doctorate.<\/p>\n After graduating, Limayem said he started his academic journey in Quebec, where he became the assistant associate department chair at Laval University. He later\u00a0took up posts<\/a>\u00a0at City University of Hong Kong, Lausanne University in Switzerland and the University of Arkansas.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re getting an academic who really went through all the ranks,\u201d said Limayem.<\/p>\n His background differs from that of other candidates recently selected to lead Florida universities. Some picks\u00a0received backlash for their ties<\/a> to Gov. Ron DeSantis and lack of experience in higher education.<\/p>\n Returning to Tampa \u201cfelt like home,\u201d Limayem said. In addition to being back in the city he\u2019s \u201clived in the longest since birth,\u201d it\u2019s also where his children grew up.<\/p>\n But, ultimately, Limayem credited USF\u2019s reputation and potential with drawing him to the top position.<\/p>\n In 2023, USF became one of three state universities to be part of the Association of American Universities, formalizing the school\u2019s position as a top research institution.<\/p>\n The following year, USF received a\u00a0record -breaking $738 million<\/a>\u00a0in research funds. The university now has a goal of $1 billion, which Limayem said he wants to help achieve despite clawbacks.<\/p>\n In addition, Limayem lauded USF\u2019s focus on student success and economic development in the community. He pointed out that\u00a0about 30%<\/a>\u00a0of the student population receive\u00a0Pell Grants<\/a>, funding awarded to those with exceptional financial need.<\/p>\n \u201cThese students come to USF so that they get the best education, be ready for a job, change their lives again and be a great citizen like all of you here,\u201d said Limayem. \u201cThat mission is very dear to me.\u201d<\/p>\n At UNF, Limayem oversaw the largest incoming class of students in school history, leading to the highest overall enrollment since 1972, according to a USF news release.<\/p>\n UNF also recently set an institutional record with its first-year student retention rate, and is No. 1 in the state for the number of bachelor graduates employed in Florida.<\/p>\n Limayem said experiential, hands-on learning is key to helping students find careers after graduating. He vowed to continue nurturing the relationship with Tampa General Hospital, while working on bringing in Moffit Cancer Center.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we have a chance to be the university medical center that is a model, not just for the state, but also for the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He also affirmed that he would \u201cdo everything possible\u201d to make sure\u00a0USF athletics<\/a>\u00a0teams are successful. He emphasized the importance of athletics in boosting engagement with students, alumni and the broader community.<\/p>\n Politics in higher education<\/p>\n If confirmed, Limayem would be taking the reins during a time of elevated political tension for higher education institutions.<\/p>\n When asked how he would maintain an environment that welcomes civil discourse, Limayem responded first with a joke \u2014 \u201cGood question. Next question please\u201d \u2014 but ultimately affirmed that a \u201cuniversity is a marketplace for ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUniversity should be the place where anyone \u2014 faculty, staff, guests \u2014 are safe to express their thoughts, their beliefs, without being scared about their safety, their lives,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd you see what is happening in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n In response to funding worries, Limayem said he plans to \u201cwork with our leadership team and faculty senate\u201d to make sure junior faculty members would have the \u201cinfrastructure they need to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n Some faculty at USF have described a culture of fear after\u00a0the state passed a law in 2023<\/a>\u00a0that they say has eroded tenure protections, and another restricting topics on race, identity and diversity, equity and inclusion.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir success is our success. Every junior faculty member who does not get tenure, we failed somewhere,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The USF Board of Trustees will decide whether to confirm Limayem at\u00a0a special board meeting<\/a> Oct. 21.<\/p>\n