University of North Florida President Moez Limayem.
Published on December 12, 2025 at 11:12 am
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University of North Florida President Moez Limayem received final approval Friday to become president of the University of South Florida.
The state university system’s Board of Governors approved the USF board of trustees’ selection of Limayem to replace Rhea Law, who has been president since March 2022.
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Law announced her intention to retire in February.
The only announced finalist for the USF job, Limayem was business school dean at the Tampa-based university before being tapped to become UNF president a little more than three years ago.
USF board of trustees Chairman Will Weatherford called Limayem “the right leader for the university at this moment” and pointed to Limayem’s previous experience at the school.
“He understands our institution, our region, our aspirations and, frankly, it’s because he helped shape them,” Weatherford said. “As dean of the College of Business he transformed student success initiatives, strengthened career readiness programs and elevated our reputation.”
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Limayem called himself a “proud product of USF” and said it is “truly good to go back home.”
Limayem’s five-year contract, which was approved by the USF board of trustees, includes a base salary of $1.25 million a year. In addition to housing and transportation stipends, he can earn up to $625,000 annually in performance-based incentives.
At the University of North Florida, Limayem’s salary is $525,000 a year. Law has earned $825,000 as USF president.
The University of North Florida board of trustees will have to name an interim president and undertake a search for Limayem’s replacement.
