Willie J. Sanders

Established in 2012 by a group of donors in memory of Willie J. Sanders to support scholarships for students committed to making a meaningful contribution to a pluralistic community and a diverse student body.

Willie worked as a lab technician at the University of Florida’s Health Science Center before being accepted to, and graduating from UF in 1970 with a Bachelor’s in Education. He was one of UF’s first black students and was also the first black faculty member at the UF College of Medicine. Sanders worked as a professor at the college until he retired as an Associate Professor in 1989.

Before his retirement, Willie served as executive director of Florida’s Anatomical Board and as director of the office of minority affairs at UF’s Health Science Center.

It is estimated that his work indirectly impacted 7.5 million people, due to the influence he had on his medical students.

He passed away in 2010.