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Letter from the President

In 1984, I began my career in higher education with a deep-rooted love for learning and an unquenchable thirst for helping students achieve and realize their fullest potential.

It was here at the University of West Florida that my career in higher education leadership was launched. After earning tenure and promotion, I moved into the roles of program coordinator, director of the University Honors Program and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. These progressive opportunities led me to become the first woman president of two universities.

In 2013, I returned to UWF as Provost and Executive Vice President to build the next generation of educators in the same manner I was nurtured many years ago. In January 2017, I began the next stage of my journey as the sixth president of the University of West Florida. My goal to attract top-notch faculty and staff to the University remains the same.

The University of West Florida is fertile ground for growth and development. Here at UWF, faculty and staff are valued colleagues who are supported and encouraged to do and be your best.

I welcome you to experience what the University of West Florida and the Pensacola Bay area community have to offer. Whether early or mid-career – teacher, researcher or staff member – you’ll find the fertile ground here to make your mark.

Martha Dunagin Saunders, Ph.D.
President

Why UWF?

Founded in 1963, the University of West Florida is a vibrant, distinctive institution of higher learning with undergraduate, graduate and targeted research programs. With multiple locations in Northwest Florida, the University serves a student population of more than 12,000.

A place for teacher-scholars to make their mark.

Teaching and researching are not mutually exclusive. Our educators are teacher-scholars engaged in both developing new knowledge, and leveraging scholarship to teach and mentor. Here, you can make your mark as both a research scholar and a mentor.

Flexibility.

UWF believes in work-life balance. Unlike larger universities, our faculty members have the opportunity and flexibility to pursue their career ambitions and professional goals without mortgaging their personal lives. Here, we offer flexible scheduling, and encourage faculty to pursue their own research initiatives.

Committed to High-Impact Practices.

Whether exploring centuries-old shipwrecks in our Maritime Archaeology Program, preparing a public relations campaign for a real-life client, or developing fully functioning robots to compete nationally, UWF educators make their mark working side-by-side with students inside the classroom and out.

Support from All Sides.

Our educators are set-up for success. With continuous support from peers and leadership via mentoring committees and the Center for University Teaching, Learning and Assessment (CUTLA), our educators receive the tools and support necessary to create learning environments that, in turn, support and engage their students.

Room for Growth.

The University of West Florida and the Pensacola community are growing at a rapid pace. With recently unveiled master plans for both the main campus and the downtown historic campus, UWF serves as a fertile ground for professional, personal and community development.

1600 Acres of Natural Beauty.

Step back in time and glimpse 1600 acres of the Old Florida, when Spanish explorer, Don Tristan de Luna, first sailed into Pensacola Bay—and the New World. As the second largest university campus in Florida, UWF is unlike any other—with white sand beaches, bays and estuaries rich in biodiversity, and a wooded campus teeming with wildlife.

Bigger is Too Busy.

In today’s world, the bigger things get, the busier we get. At UWF, we like to keep things small. Our freshmen class sizes average 34 students, with upper-level classes averaging 25 students offering unparalleled opportunities for interaction and meaningful impact. We want our students to know your name, and for you to know theirs.

Colleges & Programs of Study

College of arts, social sciences and humanities

  • Anthropology and Archaeology
  • Art
  • Communication
  • English
  • Florida Public Archaeology Network
  • Government
  • History
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Theatre

 

College of Business

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Global Hospitality and Tourism Management
  • Management and MIS
  • Marketing, Supply Chain Logistics, and Economics
  • MBA Program
  • M.Acc Program

 

Usha Kundu, MD College of Health

  • Exercise Science and Community Health
  • Health Sciences and Administration
  • Medical Laboratory Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • School of Nursing
  • UWF/FSU Physician Assistant

 

College of Education and Professional Studies

  • Aerospace Studies – Air Force ROTC
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Instructional, Workforce and Applied Technology
  • Legal Studies, Public Administration and Sport Management
  • Military Science – Army ROTC
  • Research and Advanced Studies
  • Social Work
  • Teacher Education and Educational Leadership
  • Master of Science in Administration

 

Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Physics

 

About Pensacola

Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida lies the first settlement in the New World discovered by Don Tristan de Luna in 1559.

The city of Pensacola, known as the City of Five Flags, is the largest city in the Florida Panhandle and home to a rich and textured past, the birthplace of Naval Aviation, the United States Navy Aerial Acrobatics Flight Squadron, the Blue Angels, and historically significant pre-civil war forts.

Situated on the I-10 corridor, Pensacola sits three hours west of Tallahassee, FL and three hours east of New Orleans, LA.

With an average annual temperature of 76 degrees and 228 days of sunshine, life in Pensacola is unmatched. Home to 43 miles of undeveloped powdery quartz-white sand beaches and emerald green Gulf waters as far as the eye can see, and a culture of good old southern comfort foods and hospitality, Pensacola is a place where thousands live the way millions wish they could.

This is our classroom.
This is our research laboratory.
This is our office.

Learn more about Pensacola

Talk to us.

UWF is fertile ground to propel your career in higher education. Are you ready to make your mark?

850.474.2000 11000 University Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32514

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