Moez Limayem was approved as the University of South Florida’s new president by the Florida Board of Governors on Friday.
In 15-minute discussion on Zoom, the board, which oversees the state university system, also confirmed Limayem’s contract. It includes a base salary of $1.25 million and thousands of dollars in additional incentives.
Board members did not ask Limayem any questions, though a few offered words of praise before motioning for a vote.
The brisk vote stood in contrast to those involving other presidential candidates this year, including one for University of Florida Interim President Donald Landry, and another for rejected UF finalist Santa Ono.
But this meeting was on a tight schedule. Limayem was dressed in graduation regalia, and logged off immediately after he was confirmed to preside over a UNF commencement ceremony.
Limayem has served as president at the University of North Florida since 2022, and was the dean of USF’s Muma College of Business for a decade prior. He was named the sole finalist in late September, after president Rhea Law announced her retirement in February.
Limayem was approved by the USF trustees in late October.
“I am not leaving yet,” Limayem wrote in an email to the UNF campus community. “I will remain at UNF through the transition to the interim president to ensure a smooth and stable handoff.”
As dean at USF, Limayem was well known for securing a $25 million donation from philanthropists Les and Pam Muma to the Muma College of Business. It was the school’s largest single donation at the time.
Limayem reiterated at public forums and during questioning from USF trustees that fundraising requires genuine relationships. He also emphasized that he wants USF to be a safe space for people to express their ideologies. He said he plans to diversify funding sources and support university athletics.
Limayem promised to lead with transparency, humility and purpose at Friday’s meeting. He said he came to the United States from Africa with a modest background, but with the belief that education changes lives.
“If anyone ever asks, ‘What makes this country so amazing?’ I hope they will think of stories like mine,” he said.