Martha Dunagin Saunders Email & Phone Number

Martha Dunagin Saunders became the sixth President of the University of West Florida in January 2017. In her 30-plus years in higher education, she has served as a professor of communication, honors director, dean of arts and sciences and as provost, chancellor, or president at universities in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin and Mississippi. Her area of academic expertise is in public relations and crisis communication for which she has won numerous awards, including two Public Relations Society of America’s coveted Silver Anvils. As provost and executive vice president of UWF, Saunders oversaw the reorganization of the University’s colleges. She also established the UWF Innovation Institute, the Center for Research and Economic Opportunity, University College, Center for Cybersecurity and the Office of Equity, Diversity and International Programming. Under her guidance, UWF established two new colleges—the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health and the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering.Saunders’ vision for UWF is for it to grow beyond its beginnings as a regional comprehensive university. She plans to build on the University’s strengths and its undergraduate traditions while creating programs that will attract the faculty and research funding needed to make the leap to the next level.As an entrepreneurial leader, Saunders is passionate about creating innovative solutions to deal with the dynamic challenges facing higher education. As a change maker, she drives action behind these solutions to propel higher education into the future.To request the President's attendance or participation at your event, visit: https://uwf.edu/offices/presidents-office/presidential-engagement-form/For media & other inquiries, please email: news@uwf.edu