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Manny Diaz Jr. Introduced As UWF Interim President
July 17, 2025
The University of West Florida on Wednesday formally introduced Interim President Manny Diaz, Jr. to the campus and community.
Diaz was approved by the Florida Board of Governors on June 18, following his appointment by the UWF Board of Trustees on May 27. He replaces Martha Saunders, who announced her resignation in May.
Diaz emphasized expanding academic excellence, growing workforce-aligned programs, and strengthening UWF’s impact across the region.
“I am honored to step into this role and lead the University of West Florida into this next chapter,” Diaz said. “UWF has a proud legacy and a promising future, and I look forward to working alongside our students, faculty, staff and community partners to continue building on its momentum. Together, we will advance and explore new opportunities to serve our region and state with excellence.”
Diaz’s leadership will focus on strengthening academic excellence and expanding UWF’s research capacity, growing workforce-aligned programs and partnerships, promoting access and affordability for students, and enhancing the University’s role in driving economic and community development across Northwest Florida.
Diaz most recently served as Florida’s Commissioner of Education, a role he held from 2022 to 2025. Prior to that, he served in the Florida Senate from 2018 to 2022 and the Florida House of Representatives from 2012 to 2018, where he held several leadership positions including chair of the Senate Education Committee.
Diaz’s term as interim president is for one year. His base annual salary is $643,000, but that can be extended if he is named the permanent university president.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
5 Responses to “Manny Diaz Jr. Introduced As UWF Interim President”
@ferek……. Are you saying that if everyone in the workforce made good grades and continued in education to a graduate or post graduate degree there would be no struggle? If so, you are incorrect. If you have completed levels of higher education, yet chave no idea of what is being communicated by the previous posts, your education has failed you. Your social, economic or financial status has blinded you to common sense.
So why does the president of a university earn a six figure salary? The same reason a CEO of a business with hundreds of employees makes a six figure salary. If you are so upset that managers make a good salary you should ask yourself what can I do to be more successful. Step 1 study and earn good grades in high school, take dual enrollment college classes. Complete your college and for goodness sake don’t drop out of college and throw away a scholarship that someone else could have used.
No police officer, nurse, teacher, retail, server I know of have 2400 employees and oversee the education of 15,000 students.
Lou you are absolutely right. I would also like to point out that his salary is $107,000 more than what Dr. Saunders was making, despite him having nowhere near the higher education experience that she had. It’s a travesty.
Makes one wonder what in this world does this position at a University do? The salary is Much more than any police officer, nurse, teacher, retail, server. I’m sure he doesn’t worry about his bills like the rest of us do. Still processing the salary…..