Let’s keep it OUR university
UWF Belongs to Us
Save UWF is a bipartisan, grassroots organization begun only to support the continued success of the university. It opposes trustee appointments who do not represent the values and mission of the institution. As a comprehensive, regional university, UWF is wholly integrated in the communities of Northwest Florida and beyond. The Board of Trustees, which governs the institution, must meet the needs of myriad interests that rely on the university.
What’s at Stake
UWF belongs to the people who built it and the students who study there. It belongs to the teachers who guide wide-eyed freshman and older, returning students. It belongs to the businesses that hire its graduates and the military veterans seeking another career. It belongs to all of us who live within its reach, and with a $1.1 billion economic impact, that reach is extensive.
It does not belong to political operatives with no connection to UWF or surrounding communities. Some of the appointments awaiting Florida Senate approval do not share the same values, nor have they ever been on campus.
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What We Believe
Save UWF is not against change. It is against control.
It is not against leadership. It is against ideological agendas imposed from the outside.
It is not just defending a school. It is for defending our shared future.
Save UWF is more than a slogan. Let’s keep it OUR university and stand together, speak up, and protect our valuable resource.
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April 22, 2025
A Meaningful Step Forward for UWF
We’ve just received word: Adam Kissel did not pass the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee.
This is an important moment—and a reflection of what happens when a community comes together with clarity, care, and purpose.
From the letters and phone calls to the early-morning drive to Tallahassee, your efforts were seen. Your voices mattered. And it made a difference.
With this news, alongside the earlier resignations of Scott Yenor and Gates Garcia, we’re reminded that we are not alone in this work—and that standing up for UWF’s future is worth every step.
The remaining appointees - Paul Bailey, Rebecca Matthews, Rachel Moya, Ashley Ross and Chris Young − were confirmed and will go before the full Senate for a vote. We’ll keep going, with steady focus and shared resolve. But today, it’s okay to take a breath and recognize what this moment means.
Let’s keep it OUR university.
Senate Committee Rejects Adam Kissel’s UWF Trustee Appointment in Narrow Vote
On April 22, 2025, the Florida Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections voted 5–4 against confirming Adam Kissel as a trustee for the University of West Florida (UWF). Kissel, a West Virginia resident with a background at FIRE, the Charles Koch Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education, faced scrutiny over his past writings advocating for the privatization of public universities. He described these views as long-term libertarian ideals, asserting they wouldn't conflict with supporting increased funding for UWF in the near term.
During the hearing, concerns were raised about Kissel's suitability for the role. Former UWF leaders Suzanne Lewis and Dr. Judith Bense questioned his understanding of the university's community and operations, emphasizing the importance of trustees having institutional knowledge and trustworthiness.
Senators were divided in their opinions. While some, like Senator Erin Grall, supported Kissel for his transparency and expertise, others, including Senator Tina Polsky, sided with UWF representatives' concerns about trust and ideological fit.
The narrow vote against Kissel's confirmation reflects the committee's reservations about his alignment with UWF's values and needs.
What’s Next for Save UWF?
Adam Kissel’s rejection is a major win—but the work isn’t done.
We’re continuing to monitor board appointments, advocate for transparency, and protect UWF’s mission.
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ABOUT saveUWF
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
This fight is just getting started — and our voices are making an impact.
Together, we’re building a grassroots movement of students, veterans, alumni, faculty, business leaders, and community members who refuse to stay silent while our university is politicized.
We’re showing up. We’re signing petitions. We’re speaking out. We’re making noise in Tallahassee.
Stay connected—sign up for updates in our Contact section to get the latest news, events, and ways to take action. Here are a few ways you can help.
We’re actively working on next steps and update this homepage often, so check back regularly for new opportunities to get involved.
Together, we can protect UWF’s future. Join us and keep the momentum going
Friends: UWF belongs to us—and we intend to keep it that way.
SAVE UWF is deeply grateful for this incredible show of community. Your engagement, your passion, and your action made the difference. Local media has played a key role too—keeping us all informed and united around a common goal.
Yes, Yenor has resigned, but we’re not done yet.
There are still hearings ahead, including the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee and the full Senate confirmation vote. We continue to push for a "No" vote on at least one more appointee—someone whose public statements do not align with UWF’s mission or the values of our university community.
We're also advocating for stronger, fairer rules—rules that ensure trustees are connected to the universities and regions they serve, and that they place students and schools first in every decision.
Here's how you can help keep UWF our university:
Write your senators and ask them not to confirm appointees who don’t reflect our values.
Keep your yard signs up.
Wear your SAVE UWF pin.
Check SaveUWF.com for updates and actions.
Your voice matters. Your support is powerful. And your continued involvement is how we win.
To everyone who believes in UWF and stood with us through this challenge:
The SAVE UWF team says thank you. Let’s keep going—and let’s keep UWF our university.
LATEST NEWS & UPDATES
April 21, 2025
April 21, 2025
NEW: Questions Mount for Remaining UWF Trustees
As the Senate considers confirming three new trustees, none were asked the most pressing question: Why did they vote for Scott Yenor as board chair? Despite his controversial views on women, gender roles, and civil rights, Yenor was unanimously chosen by the Board—including these appointees, who now face no scrutiny on that decision.
The article reveals how these DeSantis-appointed trustees—none of whom live in Pensacola—skated through the confirmation process without addressing the backlash surrounding Yenor. With two appointees now resigned, questions remain about the others’ judgment and priorities for UWF.
📖 Read the full article:
Senate needs to ask other UWF trustees the Yenor question – Rick’s Blog
Yard Signs & Pins are not available at the moment, but will be shortly. Will let you know when they are available once more.
ABOUT
Save UWF is a bipartisan, grassroots movement led by students, alumni, veterans, faculty, and concerned citizens across Northwest Florida. We formed in early 2025 in response to a wave of politically motivated appointments to the UWF Board of Trustees.
Our concerns began with the appointment of Scott Yenor, whose extreme and discriminatory rhetoric sparked widespread backlash—and ultimately, his resignation.
But he wasn’t the only concern.
Appointees like Adam Kissel—a vocal advocate for privatization and critic of the GI Bill—pose ongoing threats to UWF’s mission, funding, and future. On April 22, 2025, the Florida Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections voted 5–4 against confirming Adam Kissel as a trustee for the University of West Florida (UWF).
Others, including trustees with no ties to UWF or higher education, were installed without public input and voted as a bloc to support Yenor's leadership.
We believe UWF should reflect the values of the community it serves—not the politics of those who’ve never set foot on campus.
This is part of a larger pattern across Florida higher education. In 2023, New College of Florida underwent a similar takeover—with political appointees replacing trustees and reshaping leadership. The result? Mass faculty departures, donor withdrawals, and a steep drop in national rankings.
The signs are clear: if we don’t act, the same fate could come to UWF.
As Commissioner Steven Barry said:
“We do not need an exodus of skills and talent based on politics… I want to see [UWF] continue. I don’t want to see anything stand in the way of that.”
(Pensacola News Journal, March 10, 2025)
How You Can Help:
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