Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz will get a $319K pay increase if the University of West Florida Board of Trustees approves tomorrow the contract that Board chair Rebecca Matthews has proposed.
The UWF interim president’s base salary is $107K more than the current president, Martha Saunders, and only $7,000 less than new FAMU President Marva Johnson’s $650,000. The Education Commissioner’s current salary is $323,989.56.
- The state salary cap for university presidents is $200,000 in remuneration from public funds. The UWF Foundation must raise nearly half a million dollars in private funds to pay the interim president’s salary above the cap. The Foundation has covered Saunders’ salary above the $200K.
Late yesterday, we received the proposed contract for Manny Diaz, thanks to a public record request.
- The compensation and incentives will likely change when the Board of Trustees drops “interim” from its title. See 2025.06.12 – Interim President contract and summary. The board will approve the interim contract at Thursday’s meeting on June 12.
We compared Diaz’s contract with Dr. Martha Saunders’ contract – Summary-for-Saunders-President-Contract-2025-final-ADA.
Based on the employment agreement documents, here’s a summary of the proposed contract for Interim President Manny Díaz Jr. and a comparison with his predecessor, Dr. Martha Saunders:
Manny Diaz Jr. – Interim President Contract Summary
Term & Position:
- One-year interim appointment from July 14, 2025 to July 13, 2026
- Subject to Board of Governors confirmation
- Can be extended if the permanent president search fails
Compensation:
- Annual base salary: $643,000
- No performance incentive component (since it’s an interim position)
- Standard state and university executive benefits
Additional Benefits:
- Car allowance: $14,400 annually
- Housing allowance: $60,000 annually
- Relocation reimbursement: Up to $24,000
- Business travel and entertainment expenses
- With Board Chair approval, club membership fees (McGuire’s Irish Politicians Club?)
- Business class flights for segments over 4 hours
Termination Terms:
- 90-day notice required for termination without cause
- 20 weeks’ severance pay if terminated without cause
- Standard termination for cause provisions
Comparison with Dr. Martha Saunders
Key Differences:
Compensation:
- Diaz: $643,000 base salary (interim role)
- Saunders: $536,273 base salary
- Diaz earns approximately $106,727 more annually
Performance Incentives:
- Diaz: None
- Saunders: Up to 20% of base salary for performance achievements
Retirement Benefits:
- Diaz: Standard state benefits only
- Saunders: Additional 18.9% supplemental deferred compensation
Post-Employment Benefits:
- Diaz: 20 weeks’ severance if terminated without cause
- Saunders: One-year professional development leave at 100% salary, optional second unpaid year, plus $12,000 professional development fund and guaranteed faculty position
Contract Duration:
- Diaz: One-year interim term
- Saunders: One-year extension (part of ongoing presidency)
Notable Observations
While Diaz’s base salary is significantly higher, this likely reflects the premium typically paid for interim leadership roles and the compressed timeframe. However, few believe he won’t be the next UWF president.
Dig Deeper
The qualifications of the two UWF presidents are vastly different.
Manny Diaz’s Qualifications to Be UWF President
Martha Saunders’ Qualifications to Be UWF President
Director, University Honors Program/Associate Dean, University of West Florida 1996–1999
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, University of West Florida 1999–2002
Professor of Communication, University of West Florida 1984–2002
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Columbus State University (GA) July 2002–July 2005
Chancellor, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater 2005–2007
President, University of Southern Mississippi May 2007–June 2012
Provost & Executive Vice President, University of West Florida 2013–2017
President, University of West Florida January 2017–July, 13, 2025
Leadership and Achievements
• Recognized expert in public relations and crisis communication, winner of two Silver Anvil awards from the Public Relations Society of America
• Led UWF to become a top-performing public university in Florida Board of Governors performance-based funding metrics and consistently ranked among the top 15 public regional institutions in the South by U.S. News & World Report
Possible Future Contract Language
Here are the details of FAMU President Johnson’s contract:
Contract Overview
Term: 5 years, beginning August 1 (pending final confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors).
Base Salary: $650,000 per year—the highest in FAMU’s history. The state pays only $200,000 of this; the remainder comes from university partners, such as the FAMU Foundation.
Annual Raise: 3% increase each year over the previous year’s base salary.
Bonuses and Incentives
Performance Bonus: Up to $86,000 annually, contingent on receiving an “Exceptional” or “Outstanding” rating in the Board’s annual evaluation.
Retention Bonuses: Two bonuses of $150,000 each if Johnson completes the full five-year term, totaling $300,000.
Total Potential Compensation: Over five years, Johnson could earn more than $4.6 million, including salary, bonuses, and other benefits.
Funding Breakdown
State Contribution: $1 million over five years ($200,000 annually).
FAMU Foundation and Partners: Responsible for the remainder, over $3.6 million, plus additional benefits.
The contract has faced a backlash from students, alumni, and some trustees, who argue that the high compensation and retention bonuses prioritize retention over performance and may divert funds from scholarships, faculty support, and student services.
Critics also note the lack of specific performance metrics tied to bonuses and the substantial reliance on foundation funds.