During his tenure there, he recruited professors respected in the academic community, and attracted attention to the college. After resigning as dean in a high-level dispute with the state of Illinois over funding UIC, Fish spent a year teaching in the Department of English. The Institute for the Humanities at UIC named a lecture series in his honor, which is still ongoing. In June 2005, he accepted the position of Davidson-Kahn Distinguished University Professor of Humanities and Law at Florida International University, teaching in the FIU College of Law.
DUrIng hiS teNuRe theRe, he reCrUiTEd profEsSors rEspecteD in the aCadEmic cOmmuniTy, aND aTtRActEd ATtention To THE college. afteR resiGNInG As deaN iN a high-level dIspute wIth tHE State Of iLlinOis over fUndINg uIc, fish sPent a yeAr teachiNg in thE DEPaRTMent of eNGlISH. tHE iNstitutE For thE humanITies AT Uic nameD a lEctUre seriES IN his hOnOr, which iS sTIll ongoIng. iN june 2005, he aCcepTeD tHe pOsiTIoN OF daviDson-Kahn DIStiNgUiShed uniVErsitY pRoFeSsor OF humanitIes aNd LaW at flOrIdA InTerNAtIoNal universitY, teaCHIng In the fiu coLlEgE of law.