Aysegul Timur confirmed as FGCU’s fifth president
- Pamela McCabe
- June 22, 2023
- Community
- Contributors: James Greco, Tim Clark and Dale Ward | Video
4 – minute read
Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., has been confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors as Florida Gulf Coast University’s fifth president. The unanimous decision was reached Thursday afternoon at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Timur will take over presidential duties on July 1, following President Mike Martin’s retirement June 30.
Timur is in her 24th year in higher education and has been at FGCU since 2019. In her most recent post, Timur served as vice president and vice provost for Strategy and Program Innovation. Under her leadership, FGCU launched a micro-credentialing and digital badges initiative and received a historic $22.9 million grant through the U.S. Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge Grant for workforce development in Southwest Florida.
During her confirmation hearing, Timur referred to FGCU as the “leading economic engine of Southwest Florida” and said her goal is for FGCU to become the strongest regional link in the Florida system.
“FGCU has incredible opportunities for its next era through strategic partnerships with regional and statewide employers to prepare our students for today’s workforce but also for the future of work, and I look forward to additional collaboration with the Board of Governors, our chancellor and the 11 other institutions,” Timur said.
She went on to say, “… I am so excited about the possibilities and opportunities of what we can all accomplish together.”
Timur’s selection as FGCU’s fifth president is historic, making her the first woman and first immigrant to lead the university.
Originally from Turkey, Timur was a first-generation college student who 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.
Timur recognized that experience in her confirmation hearing, which she said may have been staged in the same room as her doctoral program’s orientation.
“When I commuted from Naples to Tampa all those years ago, my son, who was about 3 years old at the time, often came with me to campus. Not only did I have a transformational experience here, but it also made an impact on him, so he just graduated from USF last May,” she said, adding that his ring ceremony was held in the room as well. Timur said, “Being here today with all of you is truly a full-circle experience that I am grateful for.”
Among those in the room was retiring FGCU President Mike Martin. He was honored by the Board of Governors with a resolution for his six years of service at FGCU and a career in higher education spanning 52 years.
Martin said serving at FGCU has been the capstone of his career, and he feels optimistic about the trajectory of the university moving forward.
“I want you to know that I leave this role incredibly enthusiastic about the future of FGCU. I believe we’ve got exactly the right trajectory, the right leadership, the right board, and, certainly, the right support from the Board of Governors, the legislature and everyone that touches us every day,” he said. “And so, as I end 52 years in public higher education, I feel incredibly optimistic about what will happen in my absence now from this role and in whatever comes next for me.”
Martin, who will carry the title of president emeritus upon his retirement, took office at FGCU in 2017. Next, he will serve as the interim president and CEO of the Collaboratory and will assist the nonprofit’s board in finding a permanent leader.
- See more information about FGCU’s presidential search, including Timur’s application materials