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Position Criteria

Leadership Qualities and Experience

The ideal candidate for the UWF Presidency will demonstrate the following qualities and experiences:

  • Servant Leadership: The ability to work collaboratively to articulate and implement a bold and innovative mission-aligned vision for UWF’s future, ensuring continued growth and expanding regional impact.
  • Commitment to Academic Excellence: An understanding of the academic enterprise including teaching, research, and faculty development.
  • Strategic Fundraising and Financial Stewardship: Proven ability to lead successful fundraising campaigns, build partnerships, and ensure responsible financial management to support a growing university.
  • Student-Centered Approach: Commitment to enhancing student success, improving retention and graduation rates, and ensuring accessibility and affordability.
  • Community and Government Relations: Experience in engaging with local, state, and federal officials, as well as strengthening relationships with the Northwest Florida community.
  • Executive Experience: A record of successful leadership in a complex organization, preferably in higher education, government, or a large nonprofit entity.

Key Institutional Priorities

The next President of UWF will be responsible for advancing several key priorities:

  1. Elevating Student Success and Experience
    1. Improve student retention, graduation rates, and career placement opportunities.
    2. Promote initiatives that provide targeted support for military and other students.
  2. Continuing to Support Academic Excellence and Faculty Research
    1. Continue to align academic programs with regional need while also supporting the R2, Community Engaged research mission.
  3. Deepening Community Engagement and Partnerships
    1. Foster meaningful partnerships with businesses, local government, military, and nonprofit organizations.
    2. Strengthen UWF’s status as a school of choice in the region and beyond.
  4. Strengthening Financial Sustainability
    1. Develop and implement strategies to diversify revenue streams and optimize resource allocation.
    2. Work with government and well as private industry to pursue grant and public-private partnership opportunities
    3. Lead capital campaigns and philanthropic initiatives to support scholarships, faculty endowments, and infrastructure improvements.
  5. Aligning with the State University System of Florida Strategic Plan
    1. SUS 30, Extraordinary Impact lays out five pillars led by a One System principle encompassing the 12 distinct institutions in the state. The other four are Elevating student success; Operational excellence; World-Class talent; and Innovative Research and Development. The next President will lead UWF to continue moving forward with a thoughtfully tailored role in pushing forward on those principles.

Desired Qualifications

Candidates should possess:

  • A relevant graduate degree is preferred but not required.
  • A distinguished record of leadership, preferably in higher education, public service, or business.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience working with diverse stakeholders to achieve local, regional, and national goals.
  • A deep appreciation for UWF’s mission, culture, and role in the state of Florida and beyond.
  • A passion and excitement for the university’s ability to change the lives of its students.