Kenneth A. Jessell
Kenneth A. Jessell | |
|---|---|
| 6th President of Florida International University | |
| In office January 21, 2022 – February 17, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Mark B. Rosenberg |
| Succeeded by | Jeanette Nuñez (interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 10, 1955 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican[1] |
| Spouse | Lori Jessell |
| Education | Florida State University (BA, MBA, PhD) |
Kenneth Arthur Jessell (born July 10, 1955)[2][3] is an American educator, university administrator, and professor who was the sixth president of Florida International University. He succeeded Mark B. Rosenberg as president in January 2022, following Rosenberg's resignation amidst allegations of sexual harassment.[4] Jeanette Nuñez succeeded him as interim president in February 2025.
Education and career
Jessell received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from Florida State University. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in finance from FSU.[5]
Prior to becoming president Jessel had served as the senior vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at FIU since 2009. He is also a professor of finance at the Florida International University College of Business.
President of FIU
Jessell agreed to a three-year contract and an annual base salary of $650,000 as president of Florida International University and a performance-based bonus of $175,000, with his total compensation package coming out to $996,081, and was approved by the FIU Board of Trustees on October 17, 2022. He was confirmed as president by the Florida Board of Governors on November 9, 2022.[6][7] His three year contract ends in 2025 and he is expected to be replaced by Florida's lieutenant governor and FIU alumna Jeanette Nuñez as interim president on February 17, 2025.[8]
Personal life
Jessell is a native South Floridian and he and his wife Lori reside in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, and have two adult children, Amanda and John, and a grandson James.[9][1][10]
References
- ^ a b "Kenneth Arthur Jessell's Florida Voter Registration". voterrecords.com.
- ^ Tavel, Jimena (April 15, 2022). "A collector, granddad: Five things you may not know about FIU's Interim President Ken Jessell". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ "Kenneth Arthur Jessell, 1408 Brickell Bay DR APT 611, Miami, FL 33131 | Vote Reference". voteref.com.
- ^ "Investigation stops short of labeling former FIU president's conduct 'sexual harassment'". WLRN. March 3, 2022.
- ^ Communications, Florida International University-Digital. "FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell". president.fiu.edu.
- ^ "Jessell agrees to three year contract as FIU's next president, pending approval by state board". WLRN. October 17, 2022.
- ^ "Florida International University names interim President Jessell to post". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/lt-governor-jeanette-nunez-expected-to-be-named-interim-fiu-president/
- ^ Writer, Contributing. "Kenneth A. Jessell selected as FIU's sixth president". FIU News.
- ^ "FIU presidential candidate meetings draw university-wide interest". FIU News.