Florida Governors Reject Dr. Santa Ono for UF Presidency

The Florida Governor’s Committee rejected Dr. Santa Ono, the President of the University of Michigan, as the next president of the University of Florida during a meeting in Orlando on Tuesday.

This decision came after a nearly three-hour deliberation among a committee of 17 members responsible for overseeing 12 public universities. The vote was close, stopping short at 6-10. Reports indicate that members raised concerns about Ono’s previous support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, among other issues.

Leading UM from 2023, Ono oversaw a significant DEI initiative, amounting to over $250 million since 2016. However, in March, the university decided to end the DEI program.

On May 4, Ono was announced as one of the finalists for the UF presidential position, alongside Florida officials Greg Stube, Byron Donald, and Jimmy Patronis. Following the announcement, the search committee faced criticism from state Republicans.

Patronis expressed his views, stating that “there’s too much smoke” with Ono and that UF needs a leader focused on more than just DEI. He emphasized moving away from Ann Arbor’s mindset.

Senator Rick Scott also expressed concerns regarding Ono’s nomination, citing his record at UM. Scott pointed out that during Ono’s tenure, pro-Palestinian protesters had occupied the campus, which he felt jeopardized the safety of Jewish students. He criticized Ono for distancing himself from leadership standards and aligning himself with divisive DEI policies.

Despite initial support for the DEI initiatives, Ono acknowledged that he recognized the negative impact these programs were having on campus dialogue. He remarked that leadership requires being open to change, especially when evidence points to issues needing reform.

Additionally, it was noted that Ono had questioned the decision to allow certain protests on campus, which further fueled discussions about his capacity to lead effectively.