Florida Tech President John Nicklow to be Inaugurated Jan. 26
Hosted by John Zarrella, Public Ceremony Will Feature Music, Remarks, Pageantry
MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech President John Nicklow will be inaugurated Friday, Jan. 26 in a traditional ceremony known as an investiture that formally launches a new era of university leadership and also celebrates Florida Tech’s 65th anniversary.
The event is from 3:30-5 p.m. at the university’s Clemente Center. Students, faculty, and staff, as well as families, friends and supporters of the university, are invited to attend. Guests are asked to RSVP to allow the university to better plan for security, seating and refreshments for the reception following the ceremony.
Business attire is most appropriate. Signs and staff will direct off-campus guests to available parking.
Hosted by former CNN correspondent and Space Coast resident John Zarrella, the investiture will open with a selection of classical music and then, as in the university’s commencement ceremonies, a procession of university faculty and delegates representing various academic institutions, and dignitaries. President Emeritus Anthony Catanese will lead the procession as grand marshal.
There will be remarks from the platform party, including Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce President Michael Ayers, Florida Tech Alumni Association President Sherry Acanfora-Ruohomaki and board chair Travis Proctor.
Proctor will then lead the installation of President Nicklow, followed by Nicklow’s inaugural address. The president will outline details of the university’s strategic plans for the future.
“Leonardo DRS congratulates Dr. John Nicklow on his presidential investiture,” said Bill Guyan, senior vice president and general manager of DRS Land Electronics, a title sponsor of the investiture. “As proud community and industry partners, we also celebrate the 65th anniversary of Florida Tech – Florida’s STEM University! Forward Together. Boundless Potential. Go Panthers!”
Other sponsors of the investiture are Florida Tech Alumni Association – Gold Sponsor; Hedrick Brothers Construction – Silver Sponsor; and FPL – Crimson Sponsor.
Nicklow became the sixth president in Florida Tech’s 65-year history on July 1, 2023. His investiture festivities are part of the university’s year-long anniversary celebration. For seven years prior to joining Florida Tech, President Nicklow served as president and CEO of the University of New Orleans (UNO).
Nicklow has 25 years of higher education experience as a faculty member in engineering and an academic administrator. He previously served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Southern Illinois University, as well as earlier administrative appointments, including chief enrollment officer and leadership positions in the College of Engineering and Department of Civil Engineering at that institution.
A native of western Pennsylvania, Nicklow earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Arizona State University. He has been inducted to the Academy of Distinguished Alumni at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, and he is a recent recipient of the NCAA Champion of Diversity Award. He began his career as an environmental engineering officer with the U.S. Public Health Service. He and his wife, Stacy Nicklow, Ph.D., have one son, Ethan, who is also completing a doctoral program.
