The University of West Florida has narrowed its presidential search to a single candidate: the man who’s already been doing the job, according to a press release sent before Saturday noon.
UWF’s Presidential Search Committee announced that Interim President Manny Diaz Jr. is the sole finalist for the university’s top position. The Board of Trustees will now consider whether to make his appointment permanent.
- “After reviewing all of the applicants and conducting in-person interviews, it became clear that Interim President Diaz’s experiences of working in higher education, shaping education policy in the Florida Legislature, and serving on the State University System of Florida Board of Governors — while also serving as Florida’s Education Commissioner — have uniquely prepared him to be UWF’s next president,” said Zack Smith, chair of the UWF Presidential Search Committee.
Diaz has served as UWF’s interim president since July 2025, stepping into the role amid significant institutional changes. His background is heavy on policy and politics: he previously served as Florida’s Education Commissioner, sat on the State University System Board of Governors, and spent time in both the Florida House and Senate. He will be the first UWF president without a doctorate.
- Before entering politics, Diaz worked as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and chief operating officer of Doral College, a private college that specializes in dual enrollment. The search committee emphasized his “record of leadership in education policy, organizational strategy and initiatives focused on student success and innovation.”
The “sole finalist” designation complies with Florida’s Sunshine Laws and Board of Governors regulations requiring public disclosure of finalists. However, the decision to present only one candidate to the Board of Trustees limits public comparison between candidates and concentrates focus on a single individual who already occupies the office.
Next steps include an open public forum with Diaz and an interview with the UWF Board of Trustees. Both meetings will be open to the campus community and livestreamed via WUWF, providing stakeholders an opportunity to engage with the candidate and assess his vision for the university.
If approved by the Board of Trustees, Diaz’s appointment must still be confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors—a body he once served on himself.
- Background: The Presidential Search Committee was appointed by Board Chair Rebecca Matthews, who also selected one of Gov. DeSantis’ preferred law firms to guide the process. The committee had no representation from the Black community or the UWF Foundation Board—and no known drag queens.
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