AYSEGUL TIMUR

PRESIDENT, FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY, FORT MYERS

Timur, an economist with 24 years of higher education experience, has worked at FGCU since 2019. She served as vice president and vice provost for strategy and program innovation before taking the school’s reins in 2023. Originally from Turkey, Timur was a first-generation college student who made her cross-continental move to Naples more than 25 years ago.

EDUCATION: University of Istanbul (BS, MBA), University of South Florida (Ph.D.)

HOBBY: One of my favorite things to do is walk in nature and visit the national parks. It helps me relax and unwind! I especially enjoy these moments when I’m with my family.

INDUSTRY TREND: We are seeing a greater focus on understanding gaps in skills across industries, which requires an understanding of the workforce needs so we can respond with innovative solutions. At FGCU, we have emerged as a national leader in this space by offering short-term, rigorous micro-credentials and digital badges to complement our programs of study.