Mary Jane Saunders, Ph.D, is a Full Professor of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). She served as the President of FAU (a public research university serving over 30,000 students, 5,000 employees with an annual budget of $600 million) from 2010 to 2013 before returning to the faculty. . She has a background in scientific research and administration, specializing in microscopy and cell biology.

Before coming to south Florida, she was Provost, Founding Dean of the College of Science, and Professor at Cleveland State University. Prior to that, she was director of the University of South Florida’s Institute of Biomolecular Science and has worked at the National Science Foundation in Biological Infrastructure. She mentors minority students pursuing STEM careers. Dr. Saunders chairs LMC’s Education Committee and sits on the Research and Rehabilitation Committee.