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4mo ago

Florida Board of Governors Rejects Santa Ono’s UF Presidency Bid in Unprecedented Vote

UF trustees plan to restart the presidential search after governors overturned their sole finalist over his DEI record under political pressure.

University of Florida president-elect Santa Ono answers a question during a meeting of the Florida Board of Governors in Orlando, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, as Mori Hosseini, right, chairman of the UF Board of Trustees, listens. The governors’ board met at the University of Central Florida’s downtown campus in Orlando to vote on Ono becoming Florida’s 14th president. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Overview

  • The decision marked the first time in the board’s 22-year history it had overturned a university presidential nomination.
  • All ten dissenting votes came from members with direct ties to Governor Ron DeSantis, underscoring political influence on higher education.
  • Opposition centered on Ono’s past advocacy for diversity, equity and inclusion programs and his later comments distancing himself from them.
  • UF Trustee Chair Mori Hosseini called the outcome “deeply disappointing” and affirmed the board’s commitment to forward-thinking leadership.
  • Amanda Phalin, a UF professor and former board member, warned that increasing politicization could hinder UF’s ability to attract top academic leaders.