The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 21

THE MIAMI HERALD Heraldcom FROM THE FRONT PAGE SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15 2008 21A A1 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY THE RISE OF FIU Maidique stepping down MAIDIQUE FROM 1A have it on the back of an Eastern Airlines envelope that tells you how old it is I laid out all these things hp caiH 1972: Florida International University opens with 5667 students the largest opening-day enrollment in college history 1986: Modesto "Mitch" Maidique becomes the fourth president of FIU the first Cuban-American president of a four-year university FIU has 16000 students 1987: Pope John Paul II visits FIU Athletic teams compete at NCAA Division l-A level 1989: School of Hospitality and Tourism Management gets new headquarters at the Biscayne Bay campus 1990: The Beacon student newspaper comes out 1991: Former President Jimmy Carter visits The School of Journalism and Mass Communications is established 1992: President George HW Bush is guest speaker at commencement where salsa queen Celia Cruz receives an honorary degree 1993: The Southeast Environmental Research Center is established Library unveils a $40 million expansion plan "The dream and updates to the dream have been accomplished All of the pieces to build a world-class university are at FIU" Maidique's faith in the university his ambition and unyielding energy are credited with propelling the school from a commuter school into a research powerhouse that now has an enrollment of 38000 "When you look at place MIAMI HERALD FILE 1986 BEGINNING OF PRESIDENCY: Modesto Maidique center is congratulated on his new job by FIU officials Ralph Lewis left and Lewis Davidson in 1986 1994: The Martin Margulies Family Collection of outdoor sculpture is relocated to the University Park campus African-New World Studies program is established 1996: The School of Architecture opens as does the $145 million Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center and the International Hurricane Research Center Then-US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visits 1997: FIU acquires the Wolfsonian Museum and collection valued at $75 million Enrollment exceeds 30000 students making FIU one of the nation's 25 largest public universities 1998: FIU opens The Metropolitan Center in downtown Miami to serve downtown workers Women's movement leader Betty Friedan becomes a visiting faculty member MODESTO 'MITCH' MAIDIQUE Personal: Born in Havana on March 20 1940 Education: Four degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) including a doctorate in solid state electronics Completed program for management development at Harvard Business School Professional: President Florida International University 1986-present General partner of Hambrecht Quist a venture capital firm 1984-86 Faculty member at MIT Harvard and Stanford 1970-1986 CEO of Collaborative Research (now Genome Therapeutics) 1981-83 Co-founder of Analog Devices Semiconductor in 1969 CEO through 1976 A contributing author to 10 books he co-authored Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation a textbook used at more than 100 colleges and universities Board positions: National Semiconductor and Carnival Corp Past chairman of The Beacon Council Appointed by President George Bush to the President's Education Advisory Committee Appointed by President George HW Bush in 1989 to the Presidential Scholars Commission Also served on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board when you look at time when I you look at resources it was only a grand ambition that allowed this" FIU Provost Ronald Berkman said Friday '1 think that FIU is one of America's great higher education stories" DOWN TO EARTH Their college president is also down to earth said Arthur "AJ" Meyer the student body president He recalled Maidique attending campus parties this year to watch student Syesha Mercado compete as a finalist on American Idol "These are things most university presidents wouldn't do but our university president does" Meyer said When Maidique was offered the job in 1986 he was a former Stanford professor and a wealthy entrepreneur with zero experience in university administration His mother didn't want him to take it She'd seen how his father's political career affected the elder Modesto Maidique A Cuban senator Maidique was killed while leaving his lawyer's office when his son was 11 months old But if his mother were alive today she would be proud of him Maidique said Friday i He is most proud of creating the university's law school which was 16 years io the making and the medical school which has already received 2000 applications and won't open till next August He's expanded FIU beyond the Miami-Dade County line: In 2006 the FIU School of Hospitality opened in China When Maidique came to FIU he thought he would decisions have been unpopular or when he has been the subject of criticism Soon after taking office he Maidique he showed up at their bond hearing which at first brought criticism but later praise from colleagues and faculty The case led to passage of a law forbiding state colleges and universities from sponsoring or promoting trips to Cuba even for legitimate research Earlier this year and despite its shrinking budget FIU gave former state House Speaker Marco Rubio a $69000-a-year part-time job Maidique said Rubio's work co-teaching a political science class would raise the school's profile ANNUAL SALARY Maidique is paid nearly $500000 and can earn annual $50000 performance bonuses His contract which expires in June provides that after he leaves the presidency he will be paid the same amount as a member of the school's faculty Maidique believes the search for his successor could stretch from nine months to 1' years He said he knows it won't be an easy task "They're going to expect a smarter younger version of me" TIME WITH FAMILY Stepping down he said will give him more time to spend with his wife Nancy and his grown children When he announced his plans Friday at the end of a board of trustees meeting where he was given a superior evaluation Maidique drew a 30-second ovation from the board "We've come a long way baby" said trustee Albert Dotson "We have by far the best leader the best visionary that has come this way in my lifetime and I want to thank you Mr President" Beacon Council the economic development group that recruits businesses to the area "His development of a skilled and trained workforce is the real contribution" Nero said Despite the university's successes the current school year has been beset with budget woes because of state cuts to higher education The result: FIU has had to cut some of its programs including midwifery industrial engineering and ethno-biology "Here we are at the summit at the peak of our achievement and the crown is being undercut" Maidique said "I am very confident that the state Legislature and the governor understand that we need their support to overcome the situation" UNPOPULAR DECISIONS 1999: The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet visits as does Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu 2000: FIU becomes the youngest university invited into Phi Beta Kappa the honor society 2001: University House a $25 million on-campus presidential home opens A new bachelor's degree in marine biology begins The first fraternity house Phi Gamma Delta opens changed FIU's athletic team nicknames from the Sunbla-zers to the Golden Panthers without consulting anyone Earlier this decade FIU faculty went without a contract for three years In 2006 a Miami Herald review of his expenses showed Maidique sometimes traveled first class while on university business taking limousines instead of taxis and staying in 5516-a-night hotels After an audit he reimbursed about 33000 to the university acknowledging the line between personal and business expenses may have been blurred CONTROVERSY Also that year an FIU education professor and an FIU counselor were indicted and accused of being Cuban spies Carlos and Elsa Alvarez were longtime friends of lead the school for five years or so But his tenure is the second longest of any US public research university president He has been approached by 29 other colleges to be their leader He turned them all down If Maidique was FIU's fairy godmother the clock has yet to strike midnight And the spell was cast on the entire South Florida region said Frank Nero president and CEO of The And there have been times in FIU's history where Maidique's goals for the school outweighed the input of faculty and students when his FIU'S FUTURE Search begins for FIU's next president uiilrd: someone who is politically astute has a sound intellect and is a natural leader 2002: The College of Law opens The Paul Cejas School of Architecture Building is established FIU plays and wins its first football game Former Israeli President Yitzhak Navon visits 2003: FIU signs agreement with University of Tianin in China to open a hospitality management school there The Dr Robert Stempel School of Public Health one of two in the state is established The FIU Broward Pines Center opens in Pembroke Pines 2004: Research funding from external sources reaches $80 million Proposal submitted for a College of Medicine to Florida Board of Governors 200S: First class from the College of Law graduates FIU enters Division l-A football 2006: The Board of Governors approves College of Medicine first class is expected in fall 2008 FIU's board of trustees approves a three-year contract for Maidique paying him $542608 the first year including an $80000 bonus About 38000 students attend FIU which offers more than 200 bachelor's master's and doctoral programs in 17 colleges and schools Maidique celebrates 20 years as president the longest-serving university president in Florida 2007: FIU inaugurates a $40 million law school building named after Rafael Diaz-Balart and breaks ground on a 45000-seat football stadium Miami-Dade commissioners approve a $10 million gift for FIU's medical school 2008: FIU's medical school is granted accreditation Facing a $32 million budget shortfall FIU lays off about 200 employees shuts down several academic centers eliminates 23 degree programs and raises tuitiorrby 6 percent FIU opens the doors to its new football stadium SOURCES Florida International University Miami Herald arihnnK -C0MPIUDBYMONIKA? LEAL NEXT FROM 1A 59 announced he was leaving the chancellorship to return to FIU in February He's already served as the school's provost vice president and acting president He created the school's Latin American and Caribbean Center "My wife and I came to South Florida 34 years ago excited about it We're still vary excited" Rosenberg said Friday "II would be an honor and a thrill to continue that service" Rosenberg is a 1971 graduate of Miami University in Ohio and has a doctorate in political science from the University of Pittsburgh Another name being bandied about is the university's current provost Ronald Berkman Berkman 61 joined the sc hool in 1997 as the dean ol While a national search could be expensive especially in tight financial times the cost is necessary and worthwhile Parker said The school will solicit bids for the search firm Parker said There are a number of candidates locally and abroad but none is in the lead Parker said He would not comment on the chances Of specific candidates Nor would Maidique "On the subject of my successor you'll find me to be one of the most reserved people" But Maidique said whomever is chosen the job of a good president is to be invisible "it's almost like starting a new university" Pormei hu vice Preai dent Patricia Telles-Irvin said a school of FIU's stature desei ves a national search "Mitch is a living legend" she said "He'll be hard to FIU's successful efforts to open a law school and medical school He became provost executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2005 He earned his doctorate from Princeton University and has taught there as well as at the University of California-Berkeley New Yoik University and the University of Puerto Rico among Other institutions But Berkman said Friday it's too soon for him to think about whether he would pursue the presidency "I'll wait for the search process to start" he said That process could take nine to 18 months Maidique laid And it might not be in insider who gets the job Tin- university will hire firm to conduct a natnmil search siid Ml' Boiid ot Trustees Chairman David Parker They will also take the advice of a community advisory board Among the qualities they will be looking for: someone who is politically astute has a sound intellect and is a natural leader About 60 percent of FIU students arc Hispanic and that could be a factor in the search Roienberg is not Hispanic but he ll It irly fluent in Spanish and has traveled extensively through Latin America and has lived in Mexico When he returns to FIU in addition to teaching he plans to finish writing two books including one on Hon duras where he was I Ful-brighl Scholai Berkman also speaks some '-I'inish nd i he ollege ot Urban Public Affairs He was charged with overseeing.