TIM COST
PRESIDENT, JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY, JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville University is consistently ranked as a premier institution (top 10%) for students’ return on investment. It’s also a $400-million-plus economic engine to the region with more than 40,000 alums. Since Cost became president in 2013, JU has added dozens of new programs in law, health education, engineering, information technology, cybersecurity and data/computer sciences. It’s also launching a medical school. This year, Cost also announced plans to cut dozens of less-popular majors. Cost is past chair of the Jacksonville Civic Council, past chair of the JAXUSA Partnership, past chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Jacksonville Branch and a board member for GuideWell/Florida Blue.
EDUCATION: Jacksonville University (BA), University of Rochester (MBA)
FIRST JOB: When I was 15-16, I held two jobs — selling food and drinks in the stands at Syracuse University football games and climbing telephone poles for New York Telephone.
SOMETHING SURPRISING: I can still throw the curveball — decent movement, too.
INDUSTRY TREND: Aligning a university’s degree offerings with emerging regional demands to sustain academic excellence within a shifting educational landscape.
