Today, the University of West Florida Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Manny Diaz Jr. as interim president, pending the Florida Board of Governors’ approval. Diaz, who currently serves as commissioner of the Florida Department of Education, will begin his new role on July 14, 2025, following the resignation of Dr. Martha Saunders.
“Commissioner Diaz is high energy, he’s a tireless leader, an advocate, with endless ideas to brainstorm,” UWF Board of Trustee Chair Rebecca Matthews said during the special full board meeting on May 27. “His vision, his foresight and strong ability to implement has been proven time and again. Uniquely, he does all of this with balance and a steady hand. I offer my confidence and support of Manny Diaz Jr. to serve as interim UWF president.”
Diaz is a lifelong educator, having begun his career in education teaching social studies and coaching baseball in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system in 1994. He then served as an assistant principal from 2007 to 2013 until becoming the chief operating officer at Doral College. Diaz was appointed commissioner of education by the Florida State Board of Education in June of 2022. As part of this role, he served on the Board of Governors. Prior to his appointment as commissioner, Diaz served with distinction in the Florida Legislature, first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012, where he quickly became known as an expert and champion of education. In 2018, Diaz was elected to the Florida Senate where he served as Chairman of the Education Committee. During his legislative career, he sponsored numerous educational initiatives to support Florida’s students, families and public school teachers.
Diaz received his bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas University, a master’s degree in education from Nova Southeastern and completed a Harvard Graduate School of Education program for principals.
For more information about the University of West Florida, visit uwf.edu.
