Shock Decision: Florida Higher Ed Board Blocks Santa Ono’s Appointment as UF President

In a surprising turn of events, Florida’s Board of Governors rejected Dr. Santa Ono’s confirmation as the University of Florida’s next president. This is a first for the board, which oversees the state’s 12 public universities. The vote was 6-10, with one member absent.

Just a week prior, the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees had unanimously chosen Ono as their president-elect. However, during a heated three-hour hearing in Orlando, questions arose about his past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs when he was president at the University of Michigan. Issues like merit-based admissions and climate change were hot topics during his questioning.

Ono faced intense scrutiny, especially regarding his response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel. As he explained, "What happened on Oct. 7 deeply affected the members of my community and me personally." He assured the board that he would work against antisemitism at UF.

His past support for race-based admissions came up repeatedly. Gubernatorial appointee Paul Renner challenged him, citing previous statements and raising concerns about DEI policies. Notably, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been vocal against DEI, indicated he would leave the final decision to the board despite some of Ono’s remarks making him “cringe.”

Critics of the process emerged within the board. Member Charles H. Lydecker felt the questioning was unfair since Ono hadn’t received any materials ahead of time. He stated, "This process does not feel fair to me." Another member, Jose Oliva, insisted on understanding Ono’s beliefs in depth, indicating the mounting pressure on the nominee.

Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF Board of Trustees, expressed concern for Ono, stating that all university presidents have likely made questionable decisions in their past. He highlighted the board’s role in ensuring Ono’s success as president.

Ono was set to earn a base salary of $1.5 million, with the potential to earn up to $15 million over five years through bonuses. Now, the University of Florida has to restart its search for a new president. Previous candidates may come back into consideration, but controversy lingers around Ono’s initial selection.

This situation reflects broader cultural divides within Florida, especially surrounding educational leadership. The intense debate over policies like DEI showcases deeper ideological battles that play out in many public institutions today.

For more on this story, you can visit Florida Board of Governors.

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