The Saunders Years
(2010- )

On March 3, 2010, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name Dr. Mary Jane Saunders FAU’s sixth president. Formerly provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Cleveland State University (CSU), Dr. Saunders began her work at FAU on June 7, 2010. Board of Trustees Chair Nancy Blosser heralded her selection by saying, “We are extremely fortunate to have MJ Saunders leading FAU through what will undoubtedly be an extraordinary time in the university’s history. MJ’s track record of being an effective and productive leader will help to ensure the university’s growth and success.”

“I am humbled and thrilled to be selected as the next president of FAU,” Dr. Saunders said.  “It is such an honor to have the opportunity to lead the university to its next level of excellence, accomplishing great things together with the university community.”

Dr. Saunders joined CSU in 2003 as director of the Biomedical and Health Institute and a professor in the department of biological, geological and environmental sciences. She was founding dean of the College of Science, CSU’s second largest college. Prior to going to CSU, Dr. Saunders was a program officer and deputy division director at the National Science Foundation, director of the Institute of Biomolecular Science at the University of South Florida and an assistant professor in the botany department at Louisiana State University.

She has both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in botany from the University of Massachusetts, and she did postdoctoral work at the University of Georgia. Her bachelor’s degree in biology is from Boston University. She will be inaugurated as the sixth president of Florida Atlantic University on Oct. 29, 2010.

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