Board of Governors names Janice Gilley, Kishane Patel as new UWF Trustees

The University of West Florida is welcoming two new members to its Governing Board.

The Florida Board of Governors appointed Janice Gilley and Kishane Patel to the UWF Board of Trustees, adding two figures with deep Panhandle roots and complementary records of public service and leadership.

Their five-year terms begin Jan. 7, pending Senate confirmation.

“The University of West Florida continues to benefit from strong, experienced leadership, and I’m confident that Janice Gilley and Kishane Patel will make valuable contributions to the Board,” said interim UWFP President Manny Diaz Jr., a former Senator and Florida’s immediate past Commissioner of Education.

“Their deep ties to Pensacola, combined with their proven records of service, will help guide UWF’s continued growth and success.”

Gilley, currently the Director of Administrative Services for Santa Rosa County, brings decades of experience in government, academia and public budgeting. She previously served as Escambia County Administrator, Deputy Chief of Staff in the House and Budget and Policy Director for former Gov. Jeb Bush.

She also spent 12 years at UWF under four Presidents, most recently as Assistant Vice President of External Affairs and Government relations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s in public administration from the University of Florida.

Patel, a Pensacola-born lawyer and entrepreneur, is founder of KJP Counsel, a boutique firm serving clients in the hospitality, construction and franchise sectors.

A former UWF Student Government Association President, he previously sat on the Board of Trustees in that role and later on the Florida Board of Governors and the AMIkids Board of Trustees.

Patel earned his bachelor’s in political science from UWF and Juris Doctor from Barry University.

Gilley and Patel’s appointments follow a politically charged year for UWF’s governance, during which Ron DeSantis named five conservative Trustees to the panel, including think-tank affiliates who drew national attention.

Two, Boise State University professor Scott Yenor and Pinehill Capital Partners CEO Gates Garcia, ultimately resigned amid controversy.

The new Trustees join a university experiencing significant leadership renewal.

In the past year, UWF added David Bryant as Chief Audit Executive, Jerry Lin as Associate Vice President of Research Administration and Engagement, Alex Smith as Director of External Affairs and Denise Soares as founding Dean of UWF’s new School of Education.