Dr. Donald Landry, a Columbia University physician and academic leader, was approved in today’s Florida Board of Governors meeting to continue serving as UF’s interim president.
Landry, chair emeritus of Columbia’s Department of Medicine and president of American Academy Sciences & Letters, began his term Sept. 1 under a one-year contract that pays a $2 million base salary and allows for up to $500,000 in performance incentives.
His contract outlines responsibilities like addressing issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, student safety, school and research rankings and artificial intelligence integration in education.
According to the contract, if he is not selected as UF’s permanent president within the academic year, he will receive an additional $2 million in severance. The agreement runs through Aug. 31, 2026.
The vote affirms UF trustees’ unanimous pick after the Board of Governors rejected its prior candidate, former University of Michigan President Santa Ono, over concerns about his past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
In his remarks at the UF Board of Trustees meeting earlier this year, Landry called the role an “opportunity of a lifetime.”
In today’s meeting, the Board questioned Landry about school rankings, freedom of expression and the development of UF programs. DEI, a frequent topic of discussion in Ono’s Board hearing this year, was not brought up.
“UF is on the ascendant, and I enthusiastically endorse and will tirelessly work to achieve this aspiration,” Landry said in today’s Board of Governors meeting, mentioning the integration of artificial intelligence into the education system and the development of the UF Hamilton School and Jacksonville campus.
He described the current time as one of “ideological turmoil,” especially on college campuses, promising a larger focus on a culture of freedom of academic expression and civility culture.
Academic freedom hinges on free speech, he said, but it’s not the only right that exists in universities.
“There’s a right to teach, and a right to learn,” Landry said.
There needs to be a limit of time, place and manner of restrictions on expression that disrupts the teaching functions of a university, he said, as significant as necessary, but as small as possible.
Landry also addressed his plans to fill interim positions at UF. He wants to get to know the schools and colleges and leaders currently in place, he said. He said he will ensure they’re capable of leading their “charges into the top ranks” to achieve UF’s objectives of being a top university.
“My role is one of service,” Landry said. “I look forward to serving UF students, faculty and staff, and our stakeholders around the state.”
Conservative leaders and state officials alike have praised Landry as a steady choice to lead UF through the next academic year.
Moretza “Mori” Hosseini, chair of the Board of Trustees, opened with remarks about Landry’s accomplishments.
“We had the opportunity to confirm that Dr. Landry shared our commitment to Florida’s higher education reforms and to keeping UF a safe place for Jewish students,” he said, “We are excited to see what UF can accomplish under his leadership.”
Paul Renner, a member of the Board of Governors, said he was “enthusiastically supporting” Landry’s nomination.
Alan Levine, vice chair of the Board of Governors, praised Landry’s ability to work through difficult times, highlighting his quick action at New York Presbyterian Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During this time, Landry suggested that medical schools allow senior medical students to graduate a year early, considering the final year is generally only elective-based.
“This kind of out-of-the-box thinking,” Levine said, “is the type of action that a leader does when there is an important decision to be made.”
The Board confirmed that the search for a permanent president has been moving smoothly.
“We’re off to a great start,” Levine said.
Contact Swasthi Maharaj at smaharaj@thealligator.org. Follow her on X @s_maharaj1611.
Swasthi is the Fall 2025 university administration reporter. She's previously worked as general assignment reporter with The Alligator, and you can also find her work in Rowdy Magazine or The Florida Finibus. When she's not staring at her laptop screen or a textbook, she's probably taking a long walk or at a yoga class.
