• Florida International University has named Dr. Elizabeth M. Béjar as its new provost, executive vice president, and chief operating officer.
• She is the first Hispanic woman and the first alumna to serve as provost of FIU.
• Béjar has been with FIU since 2003 and has held various positions within the university, including vice provost for Academic Planning and Accountability and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs.
• During her tenure, FIU has seen increased graduation rates and has received grants to support student success programs.

Florida International University (FIU) has appointed Dr. Elizabeth M. Béjar as its next provost, executive vice president, and chief operating officer. The announcement was made by the university president in a letter to the university community on Wednesday.

Béjar, who is the first Hispanic woman and first alumna to serve as provost, has been with FIU since 2003. She has held various positions within the university, including vice provost for Academic Planning and Accountability and senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs.

Through Béjar’s tenure, FIU has seen increased four-year graduation rates and has received grants to support student success programs. She has also led efforts to reorganize the university’s Office of Engagement, which has now become the Center for Community Impact and Public Purpose.

Béjar earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Boston College, a master’s in international and intercultural development education from FIU, and a bachelor’s in psychology and elementary education from the University of Miami.

The university president expressed confidence that Dr. Béjar’s vision, experience, and dedication will continue to fuel excellence in research, teaching, and student success at FIU.

Béjar’s achievements at FIU have been recognized nationally, as she has served as principal investigator on several grants. This year, she received a $975,000 Department of Education grant to build on the success of completion grants and financial wellness programming to re-enroll students who stopped out during the pandemic or are at risk of stopping out. She has also spearheaded efforts that have increased the university’s research expenditures, aiming to achieve its goal of $400 million, guided by the FIU Next Horizon 2025 Strategic Plan.

Béjar stated in the letter that she believes strongly in the value proposition of anchor public research universities and the critical role faculty have in the academy today.

“This strategic plan for the next five years offers a pathway to enable intensified learner success, and more impactful research and creative work that provides solutions to our community,” said FIU in regard to the Next Horizon plan. “It represents the deep thinking and intense debate of hundreds of concerned faculty, students, and members of our community.”

In recent months, Béjar has additionally led the re-organization of the Office of Engagement, which has become the Center for Community Impact and Public Purpose focused on aligning engagement opportunities related to faculty, staff, and external partnerships.