Overview

• Santa Ono has been appointed Global President and inaugural director of the Ellison Institutes of Technology, reporting directly to founder Larry Ellison.
• The institutes focus on translational research in cancer treatment, food sustainability and artificial intelligence across Los Angeles and Oxford campuses.
• Ono highlighted the institutes’ reciprocal agreement with the University of Oxford as the most compelling aspect of his new role.
• This appointment follows Ono’s May resignation from the University of Michigan and his June rejection by Florida’s Board of Governors for the University of Florida presidency.
• The selection underscores the growing influence of private donors in shaping higher education leadership in response to political scrutiny over campus antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.