John Nicklow, President, Florida Tech

Invest: spoke with John Nicklow, president of Florida Tech, about how the university is using long-term campus planning, industry partnerships, and emerging technologies to keep pace with rapid growth on Florida’s Space Coast. “Any student who graduates today needs to have a thorough understanding of how to utilize AI to be more efficient and to make their work and their outcomes more impactful,” said Nicklow.

Over the past year, what major changes or milestones have most influenced Florida Tech’s operations, and in what ways?

The biggest driver has been our commitment to planning. One of the most visible milestones is the start of construction on a new, six-story, 556-bed housing facility that will open in August 2026. Housing is critical to keeping up with enrollment growth, and that project sits within a broader 20-year campus master plan that outlines what our physical campus should be and will be in the future.

That master plan fits inside our strategic plan, Forward Together: Boundless Potential, which keeps us focused on having the right programs, partnerships, people, and places on campus. As a private institution, we also have to be very intentional about private support. We recently launched the silent phase of a comprehensive fundraising campaign tied to our 75th anniversary in 2033. Together, the master plan, strategic plan, and campaign are shaping day-to-day decisions and positioning us for the next decade.

How do these developments reflect the broader higher education and economic landscape on the Space Coast and in Central Florida?

Our mission is to educate global thinkers and serve as a talent pipeline to a fast-evolving technological world. To do that, we have to stay aligned with where the economy is going. 

AI is a good example. Across industries, we see it as both an employer need and an essential student skill, so we chose to integrate AI across the curriculum rather than confine it to a single degree program. Students from civil engineering to psychology to business can access AI training and earn a certificate, regardless of their major.

That approach matches how work is changing. Any student who graduates today needs to have a thorough understanding of how to utilize AI to be more efficient and to make their work and their outcomes more impactful. We want students to treat AI the way we once treated calculators in advanced math, as a tool that supports, rather than replaces, critical thinking.

To stay aligned with the regional economy, I work closely with our local economic development commission and frequently meet with companies considering a move to the Space Coast. Those conversations translate directly into new and refined programs. We have designed industry-specific master’s degrees with partners like Northrop Grumman, L3Harris and Patrick Space Force Base. That is when higher education fulfills its mission — when we co-create what industry needs and build partnerships where one plus one really does equal three.

More broadly, what major trends do you see shaping higher education today, particularly in STEM fields?

Across the country, higher education is under scrutiny in some circles, and we have to take that seriously. At the same time, the core value proposition remains strong. We expand horizons, foster critical thinking, and connect people to careers. That is especially true in science, technology, engineering and math, which are at the heart of what we do at Florida Tech.

A 2023 Georgetown University study found that by 2031, 72% of U.S. jobs will require some form of post-secondary education or comparable training, and the share is even higher for STEM jobs. That reinforces our focus. 

If the U.S. wants to remain a technological leader, we need institutions that can deliver the right skills, training and talent at scale. Our role is to be one of those institutions.

How are you investing in digital transformation and physical infrastructure to support growth?

We start by understanding where growth is happening. For three consecutive years, we have broken enrollment records. This fall, total enrollment exceeded 10,000 students for the first time, up almost 2% from last year. Our retention rate — the share of students who return after their first year — has risen by about four percentage points, and we enrolled more than 1,000 first-year students for the first time.

We are still a relatively small university, and we take pride in our 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio because it allows for strong relationships between faculty and students. But growth at that scale requires continued investment. Beyond new housing, we are upgrading our IT infrastructure, classrooms and labs, all guided by the master plan. The goal is simple: ensure that the physical and digital capacity of the campus can support a growing talent pipeline without sacrificing the personalized experience we are known for.

How is Florida Tech strengthening partnerships and shaping the future talent pipeline?

Partnerships are central to our model. They give students access to research, internships, and jobs, while creating impactful outcomes and funding opportunities. One example is our role in the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology, a collaboration of 14 institutions working to establish Florida as a national hub for quantum innovation. The alliance coordinates expertise in quantum engineering and science and aligns universities, state agencies, private-sector innovators, investors, and workforce programs.

We are also part of the Florida University Space Research Consortium, which brings together Space Florida, Kennedy Space Center, industry partners and universities. It leverages the unique environment of the Space Coast to create high-impact research opportunities for faculty and students. In both cases, the model is the same — we work side by side with partners to solve real problems and open doors for our students.

What do you see as the most significant challenges Florida Tech and the sector will face over the next couple of years?

The biggest challenge is the pace of change in industry. We have to stay close to our partners so that as their needs evolve, we can respond quickly with relevant curriculum, research, and training. That expectation is not new for Florida Tech. We were founded in 1958, just two months after NASA began developing here, because there was a need for advanced training for NASA scientists. That origin story still guides us.

Today, we apply the same mindset by being intentional about relationships and constantly updating programs. Our research agenda is tied to real-world problems that industries are trying to solve. The challenge is staying in sync with rapid change; the opportunity is that when we succeed, we become an indispensable partner for both students and employers.

What are the top priorities for Florida Tech?

One priority is staying current. Technology is changing so fast that we cannot afford to graduate students whose skills lag behind the market. Making sure we meet the talent pipeline with current technologies — in classrooms, labs and experiential learning — is fundamental.

A second priority is adapting in an AI-driven world. AI will touch almost everything we do, from coding and design to business decisions. We are focused on integrating AI across programs so that students learn to use it thoughtfully and effectively.

Finally, there is the basic supply-and-demand equation. Our economic impact study showed that statewide, jobs in engineering and aerospace manufacturing in Florida are expected to grow by 17% by 2033, but on the Space Coast that growth is projected at 112%. Florida Tech already generates about $1.6 billion in annual economic impact through the university, its students and its alumni, including roughly half a billion dollars in wages and salaries. Each graduating class adds more than $1 billion to Florida’s economy over three decades. Even so, with the growth we expect, it is still not enough. Scaling our impact — producing more highly skilled graduates and deepening our partnerships — will be essential to ensuring the Space Coast has the talent it needs to continue leading in aerospace, defense and advanced technology.