by St. Petersburg, Florida (AP) — Santa Ono, a seasoned university leader, was rejected Tuesday for the presidency of the University of Florida amid fierce conservative opposition targeting his past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and other progressive policies.
The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, voted 10-6 against Ono’s appointment. This came despite the University of Florida Board of Trustees unanimously approving him in May as the school’s 14th president — making the governors’ reversal an unprecedented move. With Ono out, the search for a new president will start over.
Ono’s proposed contract included specific ideological expectations, such as curbing DEI programs and cooperating with Governor Ron DeSantis’ Office of Government Efficiency — a body modeled after former President Donald Trump’s initiatives. Additionally, Ono was expected to appoint university officials who aligned closely with Florida’s conservative education policies.
Several high-profile conservatives raised concerns before the vote, criticizing Ono’s handling of pro-Palestinian protests, climate change efforts, gender-related policies, and DEI programs during his tenure at the University of Michigan and other institutions.
Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida said on X (formerly Twitter) that Ono “prioritizes far-left activists over ensuring students are protected and receive a quality education.” Others opposing Ono included Donald Trump Jr. and Florida GOP Representatives Byron Donalds, Greg Steube, and Jimmy Patronis — with Donalds running for governor.
In a candid reflection published in Inside Higher Ed, Ono explained that he initially supported DEI programs because they promoted “equal opportunity and fairness for every student.” However, he said, “Over time, I saw how DEI became something else — more about ideology, division, and bureaucracy, not student success.” He added that he eventually scaled back DEI offices while leading the University of Michigan, aligning more closely with Florida’s higher education vision.
Governor DeSantis, a vocal critic of so-called “woke” policies like DEI, did not publicly endorse or oppose Ono but remarked recently that some of Ono’s past statements “made me cringe.”
During Tuesday’s Board of Governors meeting, Ono faced pointed questioning, especially from former Republican state House speakers Paul Renner and Jose Oliva. Board member Charles Lydecker expressed discomfort with the tone, saying, “This process does not seem fair to me… We have never used this as a forum to interrogate. This is not a court of law.”
Oliva, however, pressed Ono to clarify how his previous progressive positions square with the more conservative stance he claimed to hold now. “We are asking someone to lead our flagship university. I don’t understand how it becomes unfair,” Oliva said.
Following the vote, Congressman Greg Steube celebrated the decision on X: “Great news for my alma mater and the state of Florida! The Board of Governors heard us loud and clear: Santa Ono was the wrong choice for UF.”
Ono was slated to replace Kent Fuchs, who became interim president last summer after former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse stepped down. Sasse resigned following his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis, but reports also revealed that his administration had lavishly spent over $1.3 million on catering and social events, while awarding high-paying jobs to former staffers and Republican officials.
In addition to leading the University of Michigan, Ono previously served as president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati.
