Limayem’s candidacy emerged from the USF Presidential Search Committee in September, where he was selected as the sole finalist. His appointment received a unanimous nod from the USF Board of Trustees in October.

“I am humbled and honored by this opportunity,” expressed Limayem in a statement. “I am grateful for the hard work of the students, faculty, staff, and community leaders who have invested in this university.”

Currently, Limayem serves as the president of the University of North Florida. Despite his current role, he is well-acquainted with the USF community, bringing valuable experience and a familiar presence to his new position.

“I am humbled and honored by this opportunity,” Limayem said in a statement. “I am grateful for the hard work of the students, faculty, staff and community leaders who have invested in this university.”

Limayem currently serves as president of the University of North Florida, but he’s no stranger to the USF community. 

Before becoming UNF’s president in 2022, he was the Lynn Pippenger Dean of the Muma College of Business at USF for 10 years.

As a dean at USF, Limayem and his team raised more than $126 million in private donations for the college, including what was the largest individual gift in the university’s history — a $25 million gift from Pam and Les Muma. USF says he also led key efforts to enhance career placement, internships and talent development for students. 

“The University of South Florida and the Tampa Bay region are special to my family and me,” Limayem said. “I have always enjoyed working with USF faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporters and the community’s business leaders and I am honored to be considered to lead this great university in its continued pursuit of excellence.”

As UNF president, Limayem welcomed the largest incoming class of students in the university’s history. He also set a record with first-year student retention rate and led the university to be No. 1 in Florida for the highest percentage of bachelor’s graduates employed in the state.

Before coming to Florida, Limayem was the associate dean for research and graduate programs at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business. He also earned his MBA and doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Limayem’s wife, Alya, is an associate professor of biology at UNF and a renowned researcher who holds multiple U.S. patents. The couple has two children.

Current USF President Rhea Law announced back in February that she would be stepping down once a successor was named. Law, an attorney who had longstanding ties to USF, became interim president of the university in 2021 before being named president in March 2022.