President Saunders' Viewpoints, Op-Eds and Podcast Interviews

Dr. Saunders talks cybersecurity and the role of the UWF Center for Cybersecurity with host Dave Bittner.

Universities are measured in all kinds of ways, from the size of their endowments to the number of state-of-the art buildings or capacity of their classrooms. Important metrics to be sure, but UWF has an additional asset other schools envy but most will never have—a glorious, 1,600-acre campus of natural grandeur, bordered by two rivers and a coastal bay.

The first time UWF hit the top three in the State University System’s performance-based funding metrics, you could hear the party over two time zones. Yet even as we celebrated, a nagging question lingered – could we do it again?

Vibrant athletics programs breathe life into any university and UWF is no exception. Our intercollegiate athletics programs have dominated NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference for years with nine national championships and more than 100 conference titles. The success of athletics enhances student life and increases UWF’s visibility and support.

Students pursuing careers offering job growth and higher starting salaries often begin their search in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, commonly referred to as STEM. The majority of STEM-related jobs pay wages above the national average.

Our area houses crucial military and Department of Defense cybersecurity assets along with growing industry and cyber-conscious government agencies. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is at an all-time high, and UWF answers the demand with trained, career-ready cybersecurity graduates.

For good reason, most of us consider a college degree a valuable asset. Labor statistics repeatedly affirm that the earnings of individuals with bachelor degrees far outpace those without.

The past year truly delivered on its promise for UWF’s spirited community of learners. We entered 2018 at an all-time high and moved up from there with continued top state rankings, student victories and historic philanthropic gifts.

The hours spent in class have given our students the academic preparation for their chosen fields, but in today’s world employers need more. They want graduates who have work experience to go along with their degrees.

They’re among the best and the brightest in the nation, and they’re brand new to campus. I recently had the pleasure of meeting a group of first-year students who are not your average freshmen. These nine young adults are an elite bunch known as UWF’s “Top Scholars.”

Launched in January 2018, AIMS increases the visibility of science, technology, engineering, art and math initiatives by creating a hub for students and faculty to work on innovative community projects.

If you ask Dr. Thomas Gilbar, associate chair for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, to tell you where some of his recent graduates go to work after graduation, he will quickly rattle off an extensive list: Gulf Power, Escambia River Electric Cooperative, U.S. Air Force civilian positions, software companies, consulting companies and more.