Florida Board Blocks Santa Ono Over DEI Record \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Florida Board of Governors rejected Santa Ono’s appointment as University of Florida president, citing his past support for DEI and progressive policies. Ono, recently president of the University of Michigan, had already been unanimously approved by UF trustees. The rare reversal marks a major political flashpoint in Florida’s higher education landscape.
Quick Looks
- Santa Ono rejected by Florida Board of Governors in 10-6 vote.
- Previously approved unanimously by University of Florida trustees.
- Conservative concerns centered on Ono’s DEI and liberal affiliations.
- Ono had led University of Michigan, UBC, and Cincinnati.
- Criticized by GOP figures including Rick Scott and Donald Trump Jr.
- DEI, pro-Palestinian protests, and climate advocacy raised alarms.
- Ono claimed he shifted views, now supports Florida’s direction.
- Critics questioned sincerity of Ono’s ideological pivot.
- Gov. Ron DeSantis did not formally oppose but expressed discomfort.
- Board session drew criticism for aggressive questioning format.
- UF presidential search to restart from scratch.
- Former president Ben Sasse resigned amid ethics questions and spending.
Deep Look
In an unprecedented move highlighting Florida’s intensifying political scrutiny of higher education, the Florida Board of Governors voted 10-6 on Tuesday to reject Santa Ono as the next president of the University of Florida, despite his unanimous approval by the university’s Board of Trustees in May.
Ono, a seasoned academic leader who previously headed the University of Michigan, University of Cincinnati, and University of British Columbia, had emerged as the top choice to replace interim UF president Kent Fuchs. But ideological concerns—particularly regarding Ono’s past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—sparked fierce opposition from prominent conservatives.
The board’s rejection is highly unusual and marks the first time in recent memory that the state’s governing body has overturned a university’s presidential selection. It also restarts the presidential search for Florida’s flagship public university at a time of deep polarization around academic governance.
Ono’s proposed contract required compliance with Governor Ron DeSantis’ Office of Government Efficiency, a structure modeled after a similar initiative under President Donald Trump. His responsibilities would have included dismantling DEI programs, ensuring administrative alignment with Florida’s conservative education agenda, and appointing officials who reflect that philosophy.
Yet critics remained unconvinced. During Tuesday’s meeting, Ono was grilled on his past support for DEI, climate action, pro-Palestinian campus events, and policies on gender identity at the University of Michigan. Several Republican board members, including former state House speakers Paul Renner and Jose Oliva, questioned whether Ono’s apparent shift in ideology was authentic—or merely an opportunistic attempt to land the Florida job.
“We are now being asked to believe you’ve abandoned an entire ideological framework,” Oliva stated. “That’s a hard leap when considering who will lead our most prominent institution.”
Ono, in recent op-eds and interviews, tried to frame his shift as a response to evolving political and institutional realities. In Inside Higher Ed, he wrote that while he initially supported DEI because it aimed to expand opportunity, he eventually saw it becoming “more about ideology, division, and bureaucracy.”
“I believe in Florida’s vision for higher education,” Ono wrote, pledging to work within the state’s conservative expectations.
However, Florida GOP leaders weren’t swayed. U.S. Senator Rick Scott denounced Ono on X (formerly Twitter), claiming the academic “prioritized far-left activists over protecting students and delivering quality education.” He was joined in opposition by Donald Trump Jr. and Florida GOP Representatives Byron Donalds, Greg Steube, and Jimmy Patronis, many of whom pointed to Ono’s prior handling of controversial campus events.
“Great news for my alma mater and the state of Florida,” Steube wrote on X. “Santa Ono was the wrong choice for UF.”
Even Governor Ron DeSantis, though not directly involved in the vote, indicated that some of Ono’s past remarks made him “cringe.” Still, DeSantis never publicly opposed the nomination, allowing surrogates and political allies to carry the message.
The boardroom drama also prompted criticism of the confirmation process itself. Board member Charles Lydecker openly objected to the interrogative style of questioning during the session.
“This is not a courtroom,” Lydecker said. “This does not feel like a fair or objective process.”
The rejection now reopens the presidential selection process at UF, just months after the resignation of Ben Sasse, a former U.S. Senator from Nebraska who left the presidency in July after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy. Sasse’s tenure was marred by controversy, including allegations of favoritism and questionable spending—reportedly awarding cushy jobs to political allies and spending $1.3 million on luxury catering and social functions during his first year in office.
Ono’s long academic résumé includes leadership roles at three major research institutions and a reputation for student engagement and administrative transparency. Still, in Florida’s current climate—where DEI is being rapidly dismantled, and “anti-woke” policies are central to education reform—his past affiliations proved too polarizing.
Now, as UF restarts its search, the broader message is clear: In Florida, university leadership must not only demonstrate administrative competence but also align ideologically with the state’s evolving political priorities.
Florida Board Blocks Florida Board Blocks
You must Register or Login to post a comment.