After dozens of questions and almost two hours of conversation, the UF Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Tuesday to make Santa J. Ono the university’s 14th president.
Upon hearing the vote, the audience gave a standing ovation.
Ono has to be ratified by the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System of Florida, before he officially becomes president.
Before the confirmation vote, Ono gave an opening statement. He said he believed the university is positioned to become one of the best public colleges in the U.S. due to the new direction Florida has taken in its higher education system.
“I understand and support what Florida’s vision for higher education represents: a decisive move away from ideological bias and activist-driven culture that has come to define too many colleges and universities in this country and abroad,” Ono said.
Some of Ono’s key goals include AI development, civic education through the Hamilton Center and more medical research. He has also set his sights on UF athletics. With five interim deans, he plans to conclude faculty and administration searches so a permanent cabinet and set of deans can be appointed.
Before setting his sights on UF administration, Ono served as president of the University of Cincinnati, the University of British Columbia and the University of Michigan.
“Each of these presidencies taught me a great deal about myself, about higher education, about learning and evolving, as well as about critics and criticism,” he said.
One of the lessons he took away from his latest presidency at U-M was fighting antisemitism, he said.
“As a university president, I have seen firsthand how anti-Semitic rhetoric and actions have crossed the line into harassment,” he said. “That is why I took action at Michigan and why I will do the same here at the University of Florida.”
Ono also reaffirmed his support for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaigns to end diversity initiatives, citing his recent U-M presidency proves his credentials.
Ono eliminated DEI offices at U-M in March. The decision stemmed from 2023 discussions initiated by the passing of Florida Senate Bill 266, before anyone approached him about the UF presidential search, he said.
“DEI will not return to the University of Florida during my presidency,” Ono said.
Ono went on to share his history with mental health, hoping to promote more understanding of mental health on campus.
“I think students at the University of Florida and elsewhere need to be able to hear about the vulnerabilities of their leaders,” he said.
He wants people at UF to know him and feel cared about, he said.
“I am thankful for, and humbled by, the unanimous support of the Board of Trustees,” Ono wrote in a press release following the Board of Trustees’ decision. “The energy here at the University of Florida is palpable, and I am eager to join the wonderful students, faculty and staff of the Gator Nation.”
Mori Hosseini, the chair of the Board of Trustees, said he charged the search committee with finding someone who could take the past 10 years of accomplishments at UF to the next level.
“When I asked the search committee to find someone who can take this great university to the next level, I presented them a challenging task,” Hosseini said. “I am happy to say that I firmly believe they delivered.”
Contact Maria Avlonitis at mavlonitis@alligator.org. Follow her on X @MariaAvlonitis.
