John Cavanaugh

Dr. John C. Cavanaugh is the fourth president of the University of West Florida (UWF), having served in that capacity since July 15, 2002.

Cavanaugh was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. He studied psychology, earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Before joining UWF, Cavanaugh "held faculty and administrative positions at Bowling Green State University, the Medical College of Ohio, the University of Delaware and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and was a visiting professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology."

Representing the university, Cavanaugh was a proponent of the Community Maritime Park project and one of the three initial CMPA principals. The project is expected to expand UWF's downtown presence, including classrooms and research facilities for its underwater archaeology program and other departments. The university will also help administer the Admiral John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center.

On November 28, 2006, the University of New Hampshire announced that Dr. Cavanaugh was one of two final candidates for its own presidency. The news, coming shortly after the September 5 referendum for the Community Maritime Park, surprised many in the Pensacola community and drew criticisms that Cavanaugh was already abandoning the project he helped promote. An article in the New Hampsire Union Leader cited a report by the Florida Auditor General that questioned the use of $75,000 in university funds to renovate the Dorr House as the president's house, as well as "lax oversight of how money from student fees was spent." Cavanaugh later withdrew his candidacy for unspecified reasons.

Cavanaugh is married to Dr. Christine Kamenjar Cavanaugh.

Community Involvement

• Board member, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
• Board member, Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Downtown Rotary Club

Preceded by: Morris Marx

University of West Florida president 2002 – present

Incumbent