Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez has submitted her letter of resignation to Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying it was "a privilege" and "the honor of a lifetime" to serve in his administration.
According to the document, Nunez's widely expected resignation became effective at 11:59 p.m. Sunday and she has since begun her tenure as the interim president of Florida International University in Miami.
"I am proud to have served alongside you and to have made Florida a beacon of freedom for the rest of the nation," Nunez wrote. "As I embark on this next chapter, I leave knowing that I served the people of Florida to the best of my ability. Thank you for the trust you placed in me. I am truly grateful. I pray that God will continue to bless you and this great state that we call home."
The governor picked Nunez, a former healthcare lobbyist and Republican state lawmaker from Miami, as his running mate in 2018.
The lieutenant governor's exit gives DeSantis another position to fill in the state's government, after he elevated Ashley Moody from state attorney general to the U.S. Senate to replace former Sen. Marco Rubio, who was tapped by President Donald Trump to be secretary of state.
Newsmax previously reported that there had been no indication that FIU was seeking a new president, as no search committee had been formed, and the contract of its current president, Kenneth Jessell, does not expire until Nov. 9.
As a public institution, FIU's board of trustees is required to conduct a formal search and cannot simply name Nunez to the position.
But the trustees reportedly can name Nunez interim president and later drop the "interim" part of her title, effectively making her the university's president.
In a message to the public research university's student body on Monday, Nunez said she would "further cement FIU's position as a leader in higher education in our state and throughout the nation."
"Our goal must be to continue to ensure FIU provides our students with a high-quality education and an unmatched student experience," Nunez, an FIU graduate, wrote. "To achieve that, we must insist upon academic rigor and educational excellence, the pursuit of knowledge and truth, civil discourse, and diversity of thought. We must also prioritize innovative research, leverage our partnerships to create opportunities for students, and develop a talented workforce for our community and state.
"As Interim President, I will lead boldly and courageously because I know what is possible for our students, our university, and our community," she added. "FIU has surpassed expectations and achieved great success. Now, it's time to build on that firm foundation."
In her role as lieutenant governor, Nunez earned $135,515 annually, but she is expected to negotiate a salary and bonus package at FIU totaling more than $1 million per year. The position also provides the college president with on-campus housing.
The base salary for an FIU president is $650,000 per year, plus an additional $175,000 in bonuses.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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