Continuing major turnover in the leadership of state universities and colleges, University of West Florida President Martha Saunders announced Monday she will step down from her post.
Saunders, who became president of the Pensacola-based school in 2017 and is the longest-serving president in the university system, did not detail reasons for deciding to leave the job but said in a message to the university community that serving in the position “has been one of the great honors of my life.”
“In accordance with the terms of my contract, and after thoughtful reflection, I have made the decision to conclude my presidency,” Saunders said in the message. “This was not an easy choice. I know it may come as a surprise, and for some, a disappointment. Please know I did not make it lightly. I believe this is the right time — for me and for UWF.”
The message did not give a date for her exit.
“I will work closely with the Board of Trustees and the campus leadership to ensure a smooth transition,” Saunders said in the message. “My commitment to this university and its people remains strong through my final day in office — and beyond.”
The announcement came after Gov. Ron DeSantis in January appointed five new UWF trustees, igniting controversy at the school. Appointee Scott Yenor, a professor at Boise State University, quickly was elected chairman of the UWF board but resigned in April after criticism for such issues as a 2021 comment calling working women “more medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome than women need to be.”
Another DeSantis appointee, Gates Garcia, a Yenor supporter, resigned in April after the Florida Senate did not schedule a confirmation hearing for him.
DeSantis, who has made a priority of overhauling the university system and targeting what he calls “wokeness,” last week appointed Zack Smith, a senior legal fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, to the UWF board. The Pensacola News Journal reported that during a special board meeting Thursday, Smith questioned Saunders about issues at the university dating back to 2019, including two drag shows that were held.
In her message Monday, Saunders did not address such issues but pointed to achievements during her tenure.
“Over the past several years, we’ve accomplished extraordinary things together: record enrollments, historic fundraising, national recognition, and a campus culture that puts students first,” the message said. “We’ve met challenges head-on and kept our values intact. I could not be more proud of what we’ve built.”
Saunders’ decision came after the University of Florida and Florida International University last week announced search committees had selected sole finalists to become presidents of those schools. University of Michigan President Santa Ono was selected at UF, while FIU Interim President Jeanette Nunez, a former lieutenant governor, was selected at FIU.
Meanwhile, Florida A&M University is holding on-campus interviews this week with four candidates who are seeking to become its president. Also, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner was selected in February to become president of Florida Atlantic University.
In addition, University of South Florida President Rhea Law has announced she will leave her job. What’s more, Florida State University, the University of North Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, New College of Florida and Florida Polytechnic University have named new presidents since 2021.
With Saunders’ departure, University of Central Florida President Alexander Cartwright would be the longest-tenured president in the system. He was named UCF president in 2020.
Meanwhile, at least three state colleges — Pasco-Hernando State College, North Florida College and Lake-Sumter State College — have had presidents recently resign or are in the search process for new leaders.
