FIU President Mitch Maidique stepping down


Credited with turning what was once considered a commuter school into a research powerhouse, complete with law and medical schools, Florida International University President Modesto ''Mitch'' Maidique announced Friday morning he is stepping down.

During his 22-year tenure, Maidique, 68, raised money, grew programs and pushed the school into an unimaginable realm.

''To dream the impossible dream,'' Maidique sang, recalling the song from Man of La Mancha -- the story of idealistic Spaniard Don Quixote.

His dreams realized, Maidique said Friday he will retire as president once the school's board of trustees finds a successor. That could take nine months to 1 ½ years, he said.

Among Maidique's dreams: netting $100 million in research grants, securing an endowment of $100 million, seeing 100 doctoral students graduate, getting a law school, a medical school, an architecture school, transforming the school into a leader in research, creating a division 1-A football team and increasing enrollment.

They all came true.

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