JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An unexpected change is coming at the University of Florida after the Board of Governors voted Tuesday to block the presumptive next president of the university from getting the job.
The move was viewed as a major rebuke of the University’s Board of Trustees, which unanimously approved Santa Ono. Some conservative leaders criticized Ono’s views on diversity, equity, and inclusion as a reason for the move.
Ono’s appointment was rejected 10 to 6, marking the first time in the board’s history that it has voted down a university trustee board’s leadership selection.
Ono recently left the University of Michigan and some thought he was a shoo-in, but he started drawing criticism from Republicans over previously embracing DEI programs and how he handled protests on campus related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Ono and House Speaker Paul Renner, who represents St. Johns County, spent several minutes discussing Ono’s previous embrace of DEI.
“Do you believe American society today is systemically racist?” Renner asked.
“I do not. And I believe that sort of ideology is divisive, and that’s why the reform happening in Florida is attractive to me,” Ono said.
News4Jax Political Analyst Rick Mullaney said the rejection of Ono could have a chilling effect on future candidates.
The highest profile critic of Ono was Republican Florida Senator and former Florida Governor Rick Scott.
This is the right decision for @UF. UF’s students, faculty, and staff deserve a president who will stand for Florida values and against antisemitism. https://t.co/DrO1xEYlAr
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) June 3, 2025
He’s been talking about this a lot.
Also, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, a congressman who is running for governor on the GOP side, said, “Woke has no place in our university system.”
But Florida democrats are also speaking out.
Democratic Party Chair and Gator Alum Nikki Fried had strong words on Wednesday following the vote.
“As a triple Gator, past Student Body President, and a former member of the Board of Trustees and presidential search committee — this is complete bull****,” said FDP Chair Nikki Fried. “You can test the health of a state by its higher education institutions, and Florida just failed. UF trustees approved this candidate unanimously, but DeSantis’s hyper-partisan Board of Governors decided he was too qualified to serve. No qualified candidate will consider coming to Florida now that our system is politicized, merit is condemned, and only loyalty to Republicans is rewarded.
“DeSantis has systematically appointed unqualified loyalists to lead Florida Universities — and I’m sure UF is next. UF’s ranking as a top university in the nation is at risk while our state universities are under attack.”