Florida Board Rejects Santa Ono as University of Florida President Amid DEI Controversy**

TALLAHASSEE, FL — June 4, 2025 In a 10–6 vote, the Florida Board of Governors has overturned the University of Florida's (UF) decision to appoint Santa Ono as its 14th president, citing concerns over his past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and his handling of campus protests.

Ono, who previously served as president at the University of Michigan, had been unanimously approved by UF trustees with a proposed salary of $1.5 million. However, conservative board members questioned his commitment to Florida's stance against "woke ideology," referencing his earlier endorsements of DEI programs and his perceived inadequate response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Michigan

In an effort to align with Florida's political climate, Ono authored an op-ed distancing himself from DEI, arguing that such initiatives had shifted from promoting equal opportunity to fostering division and bureaucracy. He also emphasized his dedication to combating antisemitism. Despite these attempts, critics accused him of ideological inconsistency and failing to protect Jewish students.

Supporters, including UF trustees, defended Ono's evolving views as a natural scholarly progression. Trustee Chair Mori Hosseini stated that Ono would have ensured that "merit and scholarship, not ideology, are the gold standards for success."

This decision reflects the broader conservative pushback against DEI initiatives in higher education, particularly in Republican-led states like Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis has been a vocal opponent of such programs.

*Sources:
*https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/04/santa-ono-university-florida-dei