UNF hires Polk State College leader as interim President at the First Coast school

The University of North Florida has selected a temporary replacement for Moez Limayem, who is leaving the top slot at the school.

Angela Garcia Falconetti will officially step in as interim President for UNF on Monday. Falconetti has been President of Polk State College in Lakeland and Winter Haven since 2017.

The UNF Board of Trustees will continue a search for a permanent President while Falconetti temporarily takes over the helm at the Jacksonville-based campus.

“The University of North Florida is on an upward trajectory, and Angela Garcia Falconetti will continue building on that momentum during the transition process,” said UNF Board Chair Steve Moore.

“As a UNF graduate who grew up in Jacksonville, Angela knows the University, has strong ties to business and civic leaders and will ensure continued focus on ensuring student success, investing in research and innovation, accelerating the success of faculty and staff and expanding and strengthening community partnerships.”

Limayem announced his planned departure in September to return to the University of South Florida. The Board of Trustees there hired him as President.

While he landed the President’s job at UNF in 2022, he relocated to Jacksonville after serving as the Lynn Pippenger Dean of the Muma College of Business at USF for a decade.

Falconetti said she has no plans to apply for the permanent presidency at UNF.

“It is truly an honor to return home to the University of North Florida to serve as Interim President,” Falconetti said. “As a proud double alumna of this remarkable institution, UNF has shaped my life in profound ways that tie me directly to our mission.”

Falconetti was employed in the Student Affairs Office at UNF after earning her master’s and doctorate’s degrees in Educational Leadership. She also was an adjunct professor at several campuses in Florida and held several administrative posts.