PENSACOLA, Fla. — Dr. Scott Yenor has resigned from the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, effective immediately. At the time of publication (5:08 p.m. April 9),
Yenor, who The Voyager interviewed exclusively earlier this year, faced significant opposition following his appointment in January. His controversial remarks — including opinions on women in academia and male-dominated fields — drew criticism from students, faculty and community members.
Protests were held on campus, and concerns were echoed at a Pensacola town hall meeting, where roughly 200 people packed into the Studer Community Institute. Hundreds more joined via livestream as the grassroots Save UWF movement took the stage.
Several public figures and longtime UWF supporters attended or voiced concern, including Quint Studer, Belle Bear, InWeekly publisher Rick Outzen, former UWF Dean of Students Lusharon Wiley, and former Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Lewis, who was replaced by Gov. Ron DeSantis in December 2024.
Save UWF later took their message to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education in Tallahassee, where the committee ultimately refused to confirm another DeSantis appointee, Adam Kissel.
Yenor’s resignation statement, submitted Wednesday, reads:
“Gov. Ron DeSantis’ higher education reforms are models for the country. I was looking forward to bringing the Governor’s positive vision for higher education to the University of West Florida as a member of the Board of Trustees. Opposition to my nomination among a group within Florida’s Senate, however, leads me to resign from UWF’s Board of Trustees effective immediately.
Patriotic reformers in higher education need to imagine a different future. We know that the higher education status quo is bad for the country. Eliminating pernicious practices from our universities is a start, and Florida has led the way. Building great American universities is now a high priority for President Trump, Gov. DeSantis and others. I will continue to work to make America’s universities great. UWF too has great potential to celebrate Western civilization while staying connected to dynamic economic changes. I wish UWF the best.”
With Yenor stepping down, two seats are now vacant on the UWF Board of Trustees, following the resignation and the failed confirmation of Kissel.
The Voyager will continue to follow this developing story.
