Naples Educator takes helm at FGCU – Part Two

Jeff lytle

A veteran Naples educator has been named the fifth president of Florida Gulf Coast University. Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., a native of Turkey, was promoted in May by the FGCU Board of Trustees and confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors in June.

Dr. Timur, specializing in economics, came to FGCU in 2019 as vice president and vice provost for Strategy and Program Innovation after 20 years at Hodges University as a teaching assistant, professor, dean and senior vice president.

Her community connections include the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida, Leadership Collier and its foundation, Greater Naples Chamber, the Partnership for Collier’s Future Economy –Opportunity Naples, and the Uncommon Friends Foundation.

This is the second part of a question-and-answer for Life in Naples. Part One was published in November.

You are a champion and researcher of FGCU as a regional economic driver. What do people need to know about FGCU’s importance in that regard?

FGCU is a major economic engine in our region, and our graduates leave the university ready to work. Our students are connected to local employers thanks to our partnerships and workforce alignment initiatives, and our students gain valuable work-related experience in the community as a result.

There is renewed attention on politics and free speech on U.S. campuses. Does that complement or distract from academics?

FGCU has always fostered free speech and academic freedom on our campus. It is part of the fabric of the university to encourage critical thinking and intellectual curiosity.

All four prior FGCU presidents have been known for a specialty, such as fundraising or the arts. What do you think is yours?

I am known for my collaboration efforts and ability to build partnerships. Even when I was a faculty member, I was always involved in the business world and wanted to talk to CEOs and employers in the region so I could best prepare my students for the world ahead. As I have climbed through the higher education ranks, that focus has remained, and I want to keep connecting FGCU with our regional partners.

What should FGCU’s niche be within the state university system?

As I told the Board of Governors during my confirmation hearing, it is my goal for FGCU to have the strongest regional link of all 12 public universities in the state of Florida. We are well on our way to meeting that goal, thanks to the partnerships we have already built with local employers to ensure their needs are being met.

Will artificial intelligence have an impact on FGCU academic integrity, such as students submitting nonoriginal work?

AI is certainly a topic of interest among K-12, college and university leaders nationwide, but also in the workforce. The interpretations of the use of AI can be both positive and negative, depending on its use and purpose. We’re balancing those two elements, as AI can be leveraged in a positive way to advance critical thinking skills. Within the Student Code of Conduct, we are addressing the misuse of AI in terms of academic integrity issues, and the Dean of Students Office is now separating AI-related offenses in its own category.

Will the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion on affirmative action affect FGCU?

FGCU follows the standards defined by the Florida Board of Governors and FGCU Board of Trustees regulations regarding undergraduate and graduate student admissions. It has not been our practice to make race-conscious admissions decisions of our students, and FGCU will continue to follow the mandates of the State University System.