Governor DeSantis Endorses Dr. Santa J. Ono Amid Controversy
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is reaffirming his support for the Presidential Search Advisory Committee that selected Dr. Santa J. Ono as the next president of the University of Florida (UF), despite criticisms regarding Ono’s previous endorsement of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. During a recent event in Tampa, DeSantis expressed confidence in the committee, which includes trustees he appointed, and defended the integrity of the selection process.
"I trust the people that were involved in that process. They have performed exemplary for the state of Florida," DeSantis stated, standing by the choice of Ono, who previously served as president at the University of Michigan and was the sole finalist announced for the position.
However, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican candidate for Governor in 2026, opposed Ono’s selection. He called for the UF Board of Trustees to reevaluate their decision, suggesting they consider alternative candidates.
DeSantis reiterated his administration’s commitment to distancing Florida’s public universities from what he termed "woke indoctrination," noting that the state was the first to eliminate DEI initiatives from its educational institutions. He demanded that any president of UF adhere to these expectations.
Acknowledging Ono’s past praise for DEI, DeSantis attributed it to the prevailing trends in academia at the time and mentioned that Ono had subsequently closed UF’s DEI office. "It was everywhere. It was the price of admission to be involved in these universities," he said.
As DeSantis highlighted UF’s growing reputation, he emphasized that the arrival of a former president of the University of Michigan is indicative of the institution’s quality. "Michigan has traditionally been viewed as one of the top public universities in the United States," he remarked, suggesting that Ono’s move reflects positively on UF.
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