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Hello, Panthers!

Can you believe that we鈥檙e already approaching the end of the academic year? And what a great year it has been as we鈥檝e celebrated 麻豆传媒视频网站鈥檚 65^th anniversary, reflecting on our proud past and bright future鈥攂ut we鈥檙e not done yet!

We just wrapped up another successful signature event of the 麻豆传媒视频网站 experience as the annual Northrop Grumman Engineering and Science Student Design Showcase was held April 19. What a day that was! From the cosmic to the practical, from rovers that can fly to methods for improving surgery, and everything in between鈥�120 capstone projects were presented for judging by local industry leaders. It鈥檚 just another way a 麻豆传媒视频网站 education prepares students for a lifetime of career success.

As I reflect on my first year as your President, I鈥檓 so impressed by the energy, enthusiasm, and teamwork I鈥檝e encountered from students to faculty, staff, and alumni. That spirit, combined with bold strategic planning and hard work, means next academic year will bring even more opportunity for success.

One more milestone event to look forward to this year is Spring Commencement, set for Saturday, May 4 in the Clemente Center. We鈥檒l award degrees across three ceremonies and are honored to have two-time 麻豆传媒视频网站 alumna and former astronaut Joan Higginbotham as our keynote speaker. If you don鈥檛 have tickets, plan to tune into the Webcast. It鈥檚 going to be a fantastic day!

Please accept my best wishes for a great summer and know that wherever you go, and whatever you do, 麻豆传媒视频网站 is your university and is here for you.

We鈥檒l talk again soon鈥攗ntil then鈥�Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President

Hello, Panthers!

Spring has sprung at 麻豆传媒视频网站, and it鈥檚 a great time to be on campus! It has been a historic season for 麻豆传媒视频网站 Athletics with both men’s and women’s soccer programs competing in the 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four, both coaching staffs were named the Regional Staffs of the Year, and we earned the department’s first-ever National Player of the Year.

That鈥檚 just a snapshot of the level of success possible for all our hardworking scholar-athletes. 麻豆传媒视频网站 was among 44 schools in NCAA D2 recognized for posting an academic success rate of 90% or better, with our figure coming in at 92% for the six-year cohort ending in 2022. This was the first time since 2010 that our athletics program registered above 90%.

Meanwhile, the Sunshine State Conference recently announced its Fall Commissioner’s Honor Roll, with 69 麻豆传媒视频网站 scholar-athletes recognized for their outstanding performance in the classroom. Of those, 23 earned a perfect 4.00 grade point average last semester.

Collegiate athletics are a vital part of the university experience鈥攁nd we鈥檙e proud to promote them at 麻豆传媒视频网站. That鈥檚 why you鈥檒l see Athletics as an important supporting piece of our 鈥淔orward Together, Boundless Potential鈥� strategic plan.

Wherever our scholar-athletes progress in their professional careers after graduation, they鈥檝e gotten a great launch pad on the fields and courts at 麻豆传媒视频网站. We applaud their success.

We鈥檒l talk again soon鈥攗ntil then鈥�Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President

Hello, Panthers!

I hope everyone is having an awesome 2024 so far!

One of the best things about your university is the insightful research conducted by our faculty, often with our students working and learning right alongside them. A great example of 麻豆传媒视频网站鈥檚 ongoing investment in research designed to help us better understand and navigate our world can be seen at the Mertens Marine Center. This important facility provides vital lab and learning space for exploring the Indian River Lagoon and beyond, serving up to 140 undergraduate and 50 graduate students in ocean engineering, oceanography, environmental science, marine biology and sustainability.

University-wide, our total research expenditures two years ago were $14.9 million, and last year, rose to $15.7 million. We鈥檝e had some growth, but there is incredible potential to do better when we realize some of our peers are doing anywhere from $52 million to $180 million per year.

Our new strategic plan, 鈥淔orward Together, Boundless Potential,鈥� includes research as an integral element. As we prioritize 鈥淧rograms Driven by Innovation,鈥� we will expand and diversify externally funded research to become a strong R2 research institution providing all students an opportunity to conduct impactful and innovative research, and this will further position 麻豆传媒视频网站 for R1 consideration by 2040. 

Once our new Provost is on the ground in May, one of my priorities is to build out our Office of Sponsored Research. My goal is to provide faculty with greater support in identifying research opportunities and in preparing proposals and budgets. This is fundamental to our plan to grow our grant and contract expenditures.

There鈥檚 much work to be done鈥攁nd we will get it done, together. Thanks as always for your partnership and teamwork as we advance the mission of this incredible institution in service to our students.

We鈥檒l talk again soon鈥攗ntil then鈥�Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President

Hello, Panthers!

Spring Semester is off and running, and your university is geared up for a remarkable 2024!

Does it get any better than this? While much of the rest of the country is bundling up to stay warm, we鈥檙e basking in beautiful Space Coast sunshine. Nowhere on campus is that better enjoyed than in the pristine Joy & Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden. If you haven鈥檛 taken a stroll in the Garden lately, I encourage you to check it out when you can. I might move my office out here!

Meanwhile it鈥檚 going to be a busy rest of the month. I hope you鈥檙e planning to join us for the Presidential Investiture ceremony on Friday, Jan. 26, at 3:30 p.m. in the Clemente Center. It鈥檚 open to everyone and will be an excellent event as we take time to celebrate together this great university and reflect on our 65^th anniversary. If you haven鈥檛 reserved your spot, log on to fit.edu/65 and register. If you can鈥檛 join us on campus, please tune in to the live stream鈥攜ou can get there from the 麻豆传媒视频网站 homepage.

As we honor the past, our eyes are firmly focused on the future. In the coming days we鈥檒l be sharing details on our new strategic plan. This plan sets the course of our shared future by building on 麻豆传媒视频网站鈥檚 distinctive identity and focusing on four key pillars of success. To help achieve our vision, each pillar identifies ambitious goals to guide 麻豆传媒视频网站 and its constituents in moving Forward Together with Boundless Potential. The goals presented promote a sense of excellence, innovation, and transformation throughout the university, so stay tuned for full details.

I encourage you to remain engaged and be ready for what鈥檚 next. I predict it鈥檚 going to be a worthwhile journey鈥攆irst and foremost because we鈥檒l take that journey together.

Let鈥檚 talk again soon鈥攗ntil then鈥�Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President