Martha Dunagin Saunders

{{short description|American professor and academic official|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Martha Dunagin Saunders

| image =

| caption =

| order = 6th

| title = President of the University of West Florida

| term_start = January 1, 2017

| term_end = May 12, 2025

| predecessor = Judith A. Bense

| successor =

| order1 = 9th

| title1 = President of The University of Southern Mississippi

| term_start1 = May 21, 2007

| term_end1 = July 1, 2012

| predecessor1 = Shelby F. Thames

| successor1 = Aubrey K. Lucas (interim)
Rodney D. Bennett

| order2 = 14th

| title2 = Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

| term_start2 = August 1, 2005

| term_end2 = May 20, 2007

| predecessor2 = Jack Miller

| successor2 = Richard J. Telfer

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater = University of Southern Mississippi (B.A.)
University of Georgia (M.A.)
Florida State University (Ph.D.)

| module =

{{Infobox academic | child=yes

| thesis_title = Eastern's pilot rebellion: Patterns of conflict rhetoric preceding the 1989 pilot walkout at Eastern Airlines

| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/303868448/

| thesis_year = 1990

| doctoral_advisor = Theodore Clevenger

| academic_advisors =

| discipline = communication

| sub_discipline =

| workplaces = {{plainlist|

}}

Martha Dunagin Saunders is an American professor and academic official. A native of Mississippi, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Southern Mississippi; her Master of Arts in journalism from the University of Georgia; and her Doctor of Philosophy in communication theory and research from Florida State University. Saunders has served as the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the ninth president of the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) where she replaced embattled president Shelby F. Thames. She served as president of the University of West Florida from 2017 until her resignation in 2025.{{Citation | vauthors=((Outzen, R.)) | year=2025 | title=Breaking: UWF President Dr. Martha Saunders resigns | url=https://ricksblog.biz/breaking-uwf-president-dr-martha-saunders-resigns/ | access-date=12 May 2025}}

Biography

During her tenure at USM, a research university with six teaching/research campuses, the university enjoyed record enrollment, all-time high fundraising and increased national recognition. She oversaw $250 million in building projects in five years.{{cite web |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Kaija |title=USM President Saunders resigns same day as questions swirl about $1 million-deficit |url=https://www.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/04/southern_miss_president_saunde.html |website=gulflive |access-date=10 June 2023 |language=en |date=28 April 2012}} A massive golden eagle sculpture on the USM campus was dedicated in her honor in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usm.edu/news/2013/release/southern-miss-dedicates-massive-golden-eagle-statues-campuses.php|title=Southern Miss Dedicates Massive Golden Eagle Statues on Campuses | The University of Southern Mississippi|date=October 25, 2013|website=www.usm.edu}}

In 2013, she agreed to serve as provost at the University of West Florida, where she had begun her academic career. In September 2016, the board of trustees voted for her to be the new president at the University of West Florida upon the retirement of Judith A. Bense.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2016/09/15/blog-uwf-presidential-selection/90400378/ |title=Saunders to take helm of UWF |date=2016-09-15 |website=Pensacola News Journal |language=en |access-date=2019-02-16}}

Her training and experience in the field of communication led to numerous publications on crisis communication and public relations; widely anthologized published speeches; and two Silver Anvil awards,[https://www.usm.edu/news/2011/release/centennial-campaign-lands-southern-miss-top-public-relations-award.php] the Public Relations Society of America’s highest national honor. She is a 2011 national winner of the Stevie Award for Women in Business.

Saunders is married to Joseph Bailey, who retired from the telecommunications industry in 2005.

References

External links

[http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/newsstory.asp?ID=479 USM names Dr. Martha Dunagin Saunders as ninth president 4/5/2007]
[http://www.usm.edu/videos/2008/03/inauguration_ceremony_live_web.html Southern Miss Inauguration Video 4/28/2008]

Category:Heads of universities and colleges in the United States

Category:Florida State University alumni

Category:University of Georgia alumni

Category:University of Southern Mississippi alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:People from Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Category:Living people