Saint James School of Medicine
25th Anniversary
Class of 2025
Graduation Ceremony

President of University of North Florida

Dr. Moez Limayem joined the University of North Florida as its seventh president in August 2022.

Throughout his career, Dr Limayem has focused on opening doors, enhancing resources, and creating valuable opportunities for students. At UNF, Limayem has increased academic engagement and campus activities to elevate the student experience and boost retention. He recognizes UNF’s significant role as the top provider of talent for the region and works closely with business and community leaders to address the needs of Northeast Florida and the state.

Prior to his work at UNF, Dr. Limayem served for a decade as the Lynn Pippenger Dean of the Muma College of Business at the University of South Florida. During his tenure as dean, the college boasted strong job placement rates, and the freshman retention rate rose to 95%. Working with his team, Dr. Limayem enhanced the college’s profile, raising more than $126 million in private donations. He also led university efforts related to career preparation and placement, internships, and talent development of students. Earlier in his career, Dr. Limayem served as the associate dean for research and graduate programs at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business.

He was named among the Power 100: Tampa Bay’s Most Influential Business Leaders of 2022 by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, and was highlighted in the Jacksonville Daily Record as a Top Newsmaker of 2022.

In 2023, Dr. Limayem was named an Ultimate CEO by the Jacksonville Business Journal. He earned the recognition just as he concluded his first year as president of UNF.

Dr. Limayem and his wife Alya, a UNF biology associate professor, are both natives of Tunisia. They have also lived in Hong Kong, Switzerland, Canada, and the U.S. and became American citizens in 2015. The couple has two children.

Dr. Alya Limayem is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Florida (UNF), specializing in microbiology, biotechnology, and nanotherapeutics. Her research focuses on combating multidrug-resistant bacteria beyond hospital settings, including water reuse, through innovative nanotherapeutic approaches. One of her key projects, 16S Metagenomic Screening of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Wastewater Vessels for Nanoremediation, is funded by the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County. Her dedication to advancing science, engineering, and medicine is exemplified through numerous publications, including a highly cited article in PECS Journal on biofuel production and antimicrobial strategies, which ranked in the top 3 on Elsevier She was also honored with the “Best Researcher Award” from the College of Pharmacy in 2020, USF.

In addition to her research, Dr. Limayem holds a patent titled Chitosan Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Formulation for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria, reflecting her groundbreaking contributions to bacterial resistance and nanotherapeutics. Her work explores advanced solutions in water quality, including the development of green nanotherapeutics to target bacterial resistance, promoting public health and sustainable resource management.

Recently inducted as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), Dr. Limayem is recognized for her pioneering work on bacterial community structures and ESKAPE resistance. She is also deeply committed to teaching and mentoring students, fostering both academic and professional success.