Judy A. Bense, Ph.D.
Welcome to the University of West Florida!
The University of West Florida Board of Trustees approved Dr. Judy Bense, executive director of UWF’s Division of Anthropology and Archaeology, as interim president. Bense temporarily fills the position that became vacant when John Cavanaugh assumed the role as chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education effective July 1, 2008.
Bense has served UWF for 28 years, she received her baccalaureate degree and master’s degree in anthropology from Florida State University in 1967 and 1969. She received her doctoral degree in anthropology from Washington State University in 1972.
Bense’s dedication to public archaeology has led to the discovery and preservation of numerous significant historical sites in Northwest Florida, including the British Colonial Archaeology Trail in downtown Pensacola, the 300-year-old remains of Spanish First Pensacola aboard Pensacola Naval Air Station, the location of Spanish Second Pensacola on Santa Rosa Island, as well as the lost ships of the Luna expedition, sent to establish the first Spanish settlement in America in Pensacola in 1559. She established the UWF Archaeology Institute in 1985 and served as its director for the next 20 years. In 2005, Bense helped spearhead legislation and funding for the Florida Public Archaeology Network. The network’s eight regional centers opened in 2006 with UWF as the host site.
She has worked with Florida legislative leadership since 2003 as chairwoman of the Florida Historical Commission, preserving programs, positions and funding and has steered $2.97 million from the Legislature, $732,000 from private contributions and $5.25 million in contracts and grants.
Bense is currently chair of the Florida Historical Commission. She has served on the state’s Culture and Heritage Tourism Council and is a past president of the Society of Historical Archaeology. She is the 2005 recipient of the Pace Professional Leadership Award presented by the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce, received the 2002 Society for Historical Archaeology Award of Merit for Pubic Archaeology Contributions and is a recipient of the 1994 and 2001 UWF Distinguished Teaching Award.
