Office of the President

Dear Panther Family,

With so many exciting things going on at Florida Tech this year—welcoming the largest class of first-time college students in our history; increased engagement, visibility, and rankings; the arrival of eight new Piper airplanes for our Aviation program; the unveiling of our new Athletics logo and mascot, and much more—it is no wonder that campus is abuzz with pride, energy, and Panther spirit!

The face of this renewed vitality is our updated Pete the Panther mascot. He’s a modern and fierce symbol of the hard work, strength, and determination found in every Florida Tech student and in each of you. Pete’s spirit is alive in the steadfast dedication of our faculty and staff, in the enduring loyalty of our alumni, and in the vigorous support of our community partners and friends.

We are truly inspired by your Panther spirit, and we are deeply grateful for all the ways you help make Florida Tech better, each and every day.

May the joyful spirit of the holidays—and Pete the Panther—remain in your hearts throughout 2025!

Best wishes, 

President John and Dr. Stacy Nicklow

Hello, Panthers!

The holiday season is here, kicking off with Thanksgiving—a wonderful time to remember what we’re thankful for.

Stacy and I are thankful to be part of the Florida Tech family, with so many talented faculty and staff, outstanding alumni and hardworking students.Whether sharing a meal together or otherwise working collaboratively on campus, the Florida Tech team values community.

I challenge you to spend some time this holiday season reflecting on what you are thankful for—and perhaps more importantly, how you can make a positive difference for those around you.

That’s an individual decision that could take the form of spending time volunteering or donating to a local charity. The Florida Tech community has a years-long commitment to civic engagement, and the impact only widens as more faculty, staff, students and alumni take time to help out—in ways both large and small.

“Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve,” the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told us. So as a thankful community, let’s find new ways to help others on campus and beyond.

Happy Thanksgiving—and Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President

Hello, Panthers!

At our campus Emergency Operations Center, preparedness is the word of the day, every day.

This was most recently seen during Hurricane Milton, when dedicated members of our university community from Security, Facilities, Student Life, IT, Meteorology and more united to help us safely navigate the storm. From here, careful planning and teamwork were on full display with one goal in mind—keeping our campus community safe in the face of uncertainty.

Preparedness pays off! My thanks to everyone for playing their part. Our faculty, staff and students maintain a relentless spirit and commitment to community that is second to none. As I’ve said many times before, I’m confident our people remain our greatest asset and they are indeed Florida Tech Strong!

So whether it’s the uncertainty of tropical weather…a daunting question that arises in the lab…or challenging field work that tests our expertise—Panthers show up, stand out and show off the tough stuff they’re made of.

Perseverance pays off! Let’s keep it up.

I’ll see you around campus—and Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President

Hello, Panthers! 

Olin Quad is the epicenter of some of our university’s most noted and inspired research. Around this green swath, our talented faculty and hardworking students are involved in teaching and learning that prioritizes hands-on experiences and forms the foundation for careers of consequence.

Olin Quad is also home to the dedication monument for the F.W. Olin Engineering and Science Complex. If you’ve never stopped to read it, I suggest you do so. 

It reads: “Dedicated to the Relentless Pursuit of Knowledge for the Betterment of Mankind and the Planet on Which We Live.” That “Relentless Pursuit” is part of our DNA at Florida Tech; it sets the tone for who we are and what we value.

We all know our planet has global-sized challenges, but many are challenges that the disciplines taught and science explored at Florida Tech can address. Our powerful community of learners has a proud legacy of doing just that—tackling challenges and finding innovative solutions—and the best is yet to come. 

Join me this academic year in recommitting ourselves to that “relentless pursuit of knowledge.” I’ll see you around campus.

Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President