In a dramatic and politically charged rejection, University of Michigan President Santa Ono’s attempt to become the next president of the University of Florida has ended in failure, reportedly due to his prior support for diversity initiatives — a stance at odds with Florida’s current political climate.
Ono, who stepped down from his Michigan role in May to pursue the Florida position, found himself in the crosshairs of Governor Ron DeSantis’ ideological push to reshape higher education. DeSantis has made it a priority to purge what he calls “woke” influence from Florida’s public institutions, positioning the state as “where ‘woke’ goes to die.”
As reported in a sharply critical piece by Slate journalist Alex Kirshner, Ono’s progressive track record in Michigan became a liability rather than a strength. Despite Ono’s efforts to distance himself from that legacy, described by Slate as a “face plant,” Florida’s right-wing power brokers were unconvinced.
Kirshner outlines how DeSantis’ administration has exerted sweeping influence over Florida’s university system, including the University of Florida. “The state’s public universities, not just UF in Gainesville, were turning over their presidents at a rapid rate. DeSantis effectively controls the state university system’s ‘board of governors,’ which this past winter, gave itself the power to approve the picks by the campus-level board of trustees,” Kirshner writes.
In an apparent effort to align with the prevailing political winds, Ono tried to recast himself as “a good soldier in the culture war against higher education.” However, those efforts proved fruitless. On June 3, the University of Florida chose to move forward without him.
The response from political figures and commentators was swift. Donald Trump Jr. questioned whether those making the decision had “lost their minds,” while Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds publicly called for a new search. Despite his distinguished academic and leadership background, Ono was ultimately dismissed by critics who, as Kirshner notes, “aren’t running universities to teach. They’re running them to make a point.”
In a pointed conclusion, Kirshner remarks, “By debasing himself at their feet, Ono helped them do exactly that.” This episode highlights the increasing politicization of higher education leadership in Florida, as well as the challenges faced by academic leaders attempting to navigate ideological expectations that extend far beyond traditional qualifications.