TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a surprise twist, the state of Florida’s top higher education board on Tuesday voted against a contract for Santa Ono, who was set to be the next president of the University of Florida. The decision came after growing opposition on the right to Ono’s past statements on, among other things, diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
The rejection of Ono, the former president of the University of Michigan, also put Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a thorny political position.
One of DeSantis’ longtime biggest political supporters — Mori Hosseini, the billionaire chair of the University of Florida board of trustees — strongly backed Ono’s bid to become president of the state’s flagship university.
On the other hand, national conservatives including Christopher Rufo — an activist who built his reputation fighting racial sensitivity trainings and critical race theory courses — Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. — a Trump ally running for Florida governor — and Donald Trump Jr. argued that Ono’s past support for DEI policies made him unqualified for the job.
“WTF! Have the decision makers at @UF lost their minds!???” Trump Jr. wrote in an X post last month. “This woke psycho might be a perfect fit for a Communist school in California, but how is he even being considered for this role in Florida?
“Every single member of the Florida Board of Governors should vote against him!!!” he continued.
Two Trump advisers familiar with the issue said his post did not speak for the White House, which was not officially engaged in the fight.
Trump Jr.’s post amplified one from Rufo, whom DeSantis has praised and appointed to a separate university board in the state in 2023. Rufo’s message blasted Ono for a video in which he promoted “equity and inclusion … embedded in all areas of academic work” while he served as president and vice chancellor at the University of British Columbia in Canada.
Ono’s focus on DEI policies and issues like environmental justice were heavily scrutinized during the Tuesday meeting of the Florida board of governors, the state’s top education board that needed to vote to ratify Ono’s new contract. The board, stocked with DeSantis appointees and supporters, rejected the contract on a 10-6 vote.
DeSantis himself did not publicly vocalize heavy support of Ono’s candidacy but, behind the scenes, his team was quietly discussing how to give him a push, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Underscoring the politically sensitive nature of the vote, DeSantis’ political operation tried to claim some victory after the vote.
“Santa Ono is OUT,” posted Jordan Schachtel, a newly hired DeSantis political staffer. “The Florida Board of Governors has voted to Reject Ono as President of the University of Florida.”
“Florida has voted to reject wokeness, DEI, CRT, at our flagship university,” he continued.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., also praised the vote, saying it was the “right decision.”
DeSantis’ office did not respond to a request seeking comment.
During the contentious Tuesday meeting, Ono tried to explain that he has had an “evolution” of thought on issues like DEI, and that he was both aligned with and attracted to Florida’s brand of governance, which has cracked down on both.
“Those sorts of programs will not have a place at the University of Florida,” he told the board.
