🚨 A historic rejection shakes UF leadership
In a landmark decision on June 3, 2025, Florida’s Board of Governors (BOG) voted 10-6 against the University of Florida’s unanimous presidential choice, Santa Ono–the first instance in which this oversight authority has overturned a president selected by university trustees. The split vote, where one member was absent, bespeaks the great divides in governance of the state’s higher education system.
Santa Ono, Who?
A distinguished academic leader, Dr. Santa Ono was president of the University of Michigan (2022-2025), the University of British Columbia (2016-2022), and the University of Cincinnati (2012-2016). His Michigan appointment ceased in May 2025, just before UF trustees unanimously supported him on May 27.
What are the reasons behind the Rejection?
1. Controversy Over DEI Affiliation
Critics utilized Ono’s earlier support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to question his commitment to those ideals. Despite announcements of a reversal of course-that is, closing centralized DEI offices at Michigan and pledging not to spend on DEI at UF-he was not free of skepticism from detractors.
2. Backlash in Terms of Politics
Such prominent people as Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. Byron Donald s, and Donald Trump Jr. publicly scolded Ono, some labeling him a “woke psycho.” They sought to challenge his compatibility with the supposedly conservative values of Florida regarding race-conscious admissions, pro-Palestinian protests, and climate advocacy.
3. Burning Investigation by the BOG
As per reports, the BOG’s interview with Ono went on for almost three hours, digging deep into his socializing features, administrative decisions made by him in the past, and ideological consistency.
What comes now?
The UF presidential search is restarting. The university will need to find another candidate in a process that is already under increased political and regulatory scrutiny. The governors’ rules backed up by governors require that all future finalists would have to be pre-approved by the BOG
What roles do DEI initiatives play in academic hiring?
Tensions have grown between trustees and BOG. Trustees assert that the board has overstepped its authority into university autonomy and academic freedom. Calls for transparency are coming forward. Florida lawmakers are proposing legislation (HB 1321/SB 1624) that would open presidential search processes, set term limits, and restrict BOG involvement. Why It Matters: Implications for U.S. Academia.
This decision signals a nationwide shift in governing public universities, where political values intermingle with academic leadership. It raises fundamental questions:
Should the appointees of state-level governors control university leadership?
Can institutions retain autonomy under politicized oversight?
“This could define the future balance between autonomy and accountability in public higher education,” remarked one academic observer.
Looking Ahead: What to Watch
| Item | Forecast |
| Next UF Leadership | Will likely be aligned more closely with Florida’s conservative agenda. |
| Legislative Reform | Bills may soon mandate openness and restrict BOG’s vetting powers. |
| Precedent Setting | Other states may follow Florida in asserting political oversight over universities. |
Conclusions
The Board of Governors’ historic rejection of Santa Ono is more than a singular university matter, it is a watershed moment in U.S. higher education, foreshadowing greater engagement in political intervention with academic leadership appointments. In UF’s case, it is not on locating a new president, it is the reconstitution of principles of governance, values, and institutional autonomy that determines the very fabric of its state-of-being.
🎓 FAQs: Santa Ono and UF Presidency Controversy
1. Who is Santa Ono?
Santa Jeremy Ono is a Canadian-American immunologist who has been president of the University of Michigan (October 2022–May 2025), University of British Columbia (2016– 2022), and the University of Cincinnati (2012–2016). He also was a sole finalist for University of Florida, and was unanimously voted upon by UF Board of Trustees in late May 2025.
2. What are the events in UF’s presidential search?
May 4, 2025: Ono was named sole finalist.
May 27, 2025: UF trustees voted unanimously for him as the 14th president of UF.
June 3, 2025: The Florida BOG rejected his appointment, in a historic vote (10–6), where the Board of Governors actually voted to reverse the decision of the UF trustees.
3.Why did the Board of Governors reject Ono?
Board members expressed concerns about Ono’s previous support of DEI initiatives, how he handled pro-Palestinian protests in Michigan, and climate and gender-ideology.
4. How did Ono respond to criticism?
Ony went public with a statement saying he no longer supported centralized DEI offices and called bureaucratic DEI an impediment to his evolution. He reiterated that he supported Florida’s conservative reforms, and pledged that if he were UF president, he would dismantle DEI spending.
5. Did Governor DeSantis stand behind Ono?
No. Governor DeSantis stayed quiet on Ono’s behalf, and said some of Ono’s comments made him “cringe.” DeSantis praised the search process, but never stood up for Ono, diminishing his candidacy.
6. How did conservative leaders factor into the decision?
Conservative leaders (national and state), including Senator Rick Scott, Representative Byron Donald s, Donald Trump, Jr., and Christopher Rufo, addressed the media and took a visible stand against Ono. Their stature life and numbers produced tremendous pressure leading up to the BOG vote.
7. What procedural changes allow the BOG to override UF trustees?
In October 2024, the BOG adopted the following rules establishing its authority to select Presidential candidates:
The board can appoint a member for UF’s search committee.
All finalists must be vetted and approved by the chair of BOG before UF trustees vote.
8. What are the next steps for UF?
UF will have to start again for the presidential search. Interim president Kent Fuchs continues to lead while a new search is probably being constructed.
