Jeanette M. Nuñez has earned a valuable place in the hearts of the people of Florida. A few years ago, she became the first Latina to serve as Vice Governor in the state, a path that was paved by her hard work, intelligence, and effort, and that has inspired many to follow in her footsteps.
© ReutersJeanette is the daughter of Victor and Teresita Sanchez, two Cuban immigrants who built their lives in Miami. Jeanette studied at Florida International University, where she acquired a degree in International Relations and Political Science, and a Master's in Public Administration.
Following the conclusion of her college-level studies, Jeanette began working in politics, serving as the legal assistant to the former state senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla. Slowly, Jeanette began climbing the ranks in government, being elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 2010. She worked there for eight years, serving various important roles and fulfilling important duties, like helping the state battle Hurricanes, handling its workforce, and more.
"For someone like me, who grew up as the daughter of immigrants and had the chance to work in public service, this is something that fills me with humility."
© Nunzio RuggieroJeanette married Adrian Nuñez, with the two having three children. Family has long been a pillar of her work, with her playing a key role in passing a bill that allows the children of immigrants without green cards to pay the same tuition in colleges as residents of Florida.
In September 2018, Ron DeSantis selected Jeanette as his running mate to serve as the Governor of Florida. The pair won the elections, with Jeanette officially taking the role in January 2019.
In 2022, Jeanette was reelected alongside DeSantis, a role that she fulfilled until this year, when she quit in order to serve as the president of Florida International University. She was confirmed for the position in June of 2025.
"Over the next five years, we will focus on sustaining our success through our strategic plan, Experience Impact 2030. Our vision is clear, our future is bold, and our time is now.”
© @fiupresidentThroughout Jeanette's long and fruitful career, she's lent her skills to all manner of roles. One of the most impressive ones was the duties she took on when serving as the President of the Board of Directors of Space Florida, with her work allowing her to supervise the launches of rockets and spaceships from Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.
