The search committee’s membership and process follow Board of Governors Regulation 1.002: Presidential Search and Selection and Section 1004.098, Florida Statutes. The process will include stakeholder input; the development of a position profile; marketing of the position; and identifying and screening the most qualified candidates. The committee will then recommend an unranked list of finalists to the Board of Trustees for consideration.
The search process will be guided by UWF’s mission and vision, which continue to drive the institution’s progress and success. The next president will be expected to sustain and strengthen this momentum, leading the University toward the fulfillment of its long-term goals and strategic priorities.
Check this website often for updates and important announcements regarding the UWF Presidential Search.
Manny Diaz Jr. Named Seventh President of UWF
On January 8, the University of West Florida Board of Trustees voted to name Manny Diaz Jr. the UWF’s seventh president. On January 29, the Florida Board of Governors confirmed his appointment as UWF’s president. Diaz served as UWF’s interim president since July 2025. Prior to his interim appointment, he served as Florida’s Commissioner of Education and held key roles in the Florida Legislature, where he championed education reform.