TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Board of Governors voted towards confirming Dr. Santa J. Ono as the subsequent president of the College of Florida – a uncommon rejection of a presidential candidate.
On Might 27, the College of Florida Board of Trustees unanimously chosen Dr. Santa J. Ono to function the college’s subsequent president.
Nonetheless, a divided Board of Governors raised quite a lot of issues in the course of the assembly and questioned Ono on his earlier stances associated to range, fairness and inclusion; his dealing with of protests; racism; vaccines; gender; and different sizzling subjects.
He was the only real finalist, chosen unanimously by the 15-member Presidential Search Committee, for advice to the board.
Based on the UF Presidential Search Packet, Ono beforehand served because the president of the College of Michigan, president and vice chancellor of the College of British Columbia, president of the College of Cincinnati, chair of the College of Michigan Well being Board, chair of the Council of Presidents of the Affiliation of Public & Land Grant Universities, and extra.
Previous criticisms
In the course of the Q&A portion of the assembly, a number of members requested Ono about his previous feedback associated to DEI and different subjects.
Board of Governors member and Former Home Speaker Paul Renner requested Ono a sequence of questions and posted a doc on his X account a sequence of posts together with a doc known as “The Case In opposition to Dr. Santa Ono.”
The doc says Ono “has a protracted historical past of radical beliefs. He claims to have disbanded DEI at UM following his personal awakening to its harms, however the timeline reveals it was not till he was interviewing with UF that he modified his stance.”
“Regardless of statements that his opinion of DEI modified over the previous 18 months and his taking credit score for disbanding UM’s DEI applications, the details present Ono didn’t start denouncing his radical ideologies till he started interviewing with UF. As well as, all of his statements level to the federal directives being the trigger for his termination of DEI,” the doc mentioned.
A Presidential Search packet from Tuesday’s assembly included a letter from chairman of the Board of Trustees at UF, Morteza “Mori” Hosseini, to Board of Governor’s Chair Brian Lamb who mentioned he believes Ono “is not going to deliver DEI to UF.”
“He’ll guarantee UF is a secure place for all college students, together with Jewish college students, he is not going to have interaction in or enable others to expend public or personal funds on DEI or political or social activism, he’ll adjust to and implement the legislation of this state…” Hosseini mentioned.
The letter famous Ono beforehand responded to criticism in an Inside Increased Ed Op-Ed on Might 8, the place he defined his place on Florida’s increased schooling reforms and actions, together with these associated to DEI and antisemitism.
“Like many, I supported what I believed to be the unique intent of DEI — making certain equal alternative and equity for each scholar. That’s one thing on which most everybody agrees. However over time, I noticed how DEI grew to become one thing else—extra about ideology, division and paperwork, not scholar success,” Ono wrote beforehand.
“That’s why, as president of the College of Michigan, I made the choice to get rid of centralized DEI places of work and redirect sources towards tutorial help and merit-based achievement. It wasn’t universally widespread, nevertheless it was crucial. I stood by it—and I’ll deliver that very same readability of goal to UF,” Ono wrote.
Throughout Tuesday’s assembly, Ono talked about anti-semitism, saying it “is not only one other bias, it’s harmful, it’s insidious, it’s a definite menace.”
Ono additionally addressed DEI, he mentioned he helps the choice to finish DEI applications and “made the same transfer in Michigan” in 2022.
Alan Levine, vice chair for the Florida Board of Governor’s mentioned there has “been loads of noise on either side of this situation” and requested a sequence of questions – urgent Ono on his previous.
Public backlash
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds spoke out forward of Ono’s affirmation and mentioned he has “no enterprise being the president.”
“Florida can’t afford to inject wokeness into our flagship college. This choice have to be blocked and the search committee should begin over,” Donalds mentioned.
Florida can’t afford to inject wokeness into our flagship college.
This choice have to be blocked and the search committee should begin over. pic.twitter.com/xmT0qR032k
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) Might 6, 2025
U.S. Sen Rick Scott shared a video on X forward of the assembly and mentioned “I hope the Florida Board of Governors listens to this younger man clarify how potential @UF President Santa Ono failed Jewish college students within the aftermath of October seventh.”
Within the video, College of Michigan Scholar Benny Shaevsky shared his expertise below Ono’s management, calling for his appointment to be rejected.
“Within the aftermath of October 7, when Jewish college students wanted management, safety and readability, Santa Ono gave us silence,” Shaevsky mentioned. “Ono failed us, he watched as Jewish college students have been harassed and silenced, and did nothing.”
I hope the Florida Board of Governors listens to this younger man clarify how potential @UF President Santa Ono failed Jewish college students within the aftermath of October seventh. https://t.co/YCTQf0ka8Y
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) June 3, 2025
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube shared a Miami Herald article and mentioned, “Right here’s a novel concept: as a substitute of “loyalty pledges” and $15 million favors, how about @UF chooses a president who represents Florida values and rejects divisive progressive ideology like DEI? Only a thought.”
Right here’s a novel concept: as a substitute of “loyalty pledges” and $15 million favors, how about @UF chooses a president who represents Florida values and rejects divisive progressive ideology like DEI? Only a thought.https://t.co/qyi5IWcswI pic.twitter.com/Ketis3SOaN
— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) Might 31, 2025
Search continues
The seek for UF’s subsequent president will proceed, with the trail ahead presently unclear.
The time period, as outlined in Ono’s employment settlement, would have went from June 4 by way of Might 30, 2030 with an annual wage of $1.5 million with an annual 3% elevate and an annual 20% retention bonus.
Florida’s Voice will proceed to observe developments within the choice course of.
