Joseph J. West

• Title: Dean and professor, FIU School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Hired in 1999.

• Age: 63.

• Last job: Chairman of the hospitality program at Florida State's business school, a post he took in 1991. Also served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and ran restaurants and bars in the Carolinas.

• Affiliations: Joined the corporate board of the Benihana Japanese restaurant chain in 2005.