Santa Ono named University of Florida president after Ben Sasse’s departure | FOX 51 Gainesville
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Santa Ono named University of Florida president after Ben Sasse’s departure

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Published  May 27, 2025 2:29pm EDT
Education
FOX 35 Orlando

The Brief

    • Dr. Santa J. Ono has been named the next president of the University of Florida, pending approval by the UF Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors. 
    • He was selected following a national search sparked by the resignation of former president Ben Sasse, whose short tenure drew scrutiny over travel and staffing decisions.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Florida has appointed Dr. Santa J. Ono as the institution's 14th president.

The decision follows a unanimous recommendation from the university's presidential search committee earlier this month.

‘Proven record of academic excellence, innovation and collaborative leadership’

Dig deeper:

Santa Ono, the current president of the University of Michigan, has been named the next president of the University of Florida. UF announced the decision Tuesday after a months-long search process launched in the wake of Ben Sasse’s abrupt resignation last year. 

Ono is solo finalist for UF president post

Ono is solo finalist for UF president post

Santa Ono, president of the University of Michigan, has been named the sole finalist to lead the University of Florida.

Ono holds a doctorate in experimental medicine and has led multiple major universities including, the University of Michigan, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Cincinnati.

Rahul Patel, chair of the UF search committee, praised Ono’s credentials, "Dr. Ono’s proven record of academic excellence, innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice."

Former UF president Ben Sasse

The backstory:

The University of Florida presidency became vacant following the departure of Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, who stepped down less than two years into the role, citing his wife's health concerns. 

Audit outlines spending patterns of former UF president

Audit outlines spending patterns of former UF president

Garrett Shanley, reporter of The Alligator, joined FOX 35's Garrett Wymer on Florida Live to break down his reporting of a preliminary report from Florida's Auditor General which found the University of Florida failed to prevent former President Ben Sasse from inappropriately spending university funds on private planes, a holiday party, and a consulting contract.

His tenure faced criticism, including reports from The Independent Florida Alligator that raised questions about his travel expenses and staffing decisions—allegations Sasse denied. After his resignation, former UF president Kent Fuchs returned to serve as interim president.

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The Source: The information in this article comes from the University of Florida.

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