Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Pensacola native Zack Smith to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, providing the board with local legal expertise.
Smith serves as Senior Legal Fellow and Manager of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program at The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. He also serves as a Commissioner on the First Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, which oversees judicial appointments across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve my community and the school on the UWF Board of Trustees,” Smith wrote on X.
The governor’s office highlighted Smith’s longtime connection to the region and UWF, where he once taught as an adjunct professor. Smith has built a career that blends legal expertise with public service at the national level and within the Northwest Florida community.
Before his role at The Heritage Foundation, Smith worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Florida. He handled federal legal matters that directly impacted Pensacola and surrounding areas. Though he earned his academic credentials from the University of Florida, Smith has remained closely tied to UWF and Northwest Florida throughout his career.
The University of West Florida Board of Trustees is critical in shaping the university’s strategy, budget, and leadership decisions. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed five people to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees in January, but only two went on to win senate support.
Smith’s appointment to the UWF board is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
