GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the selection of Dr. Santa J. Ono as the school’s next president.
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Once the selection is confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors, Ono will begin his tenure as the 14th president in UF’s history, succeeding current president Kent Fuchs.
Fuchs was filling the role on an interim basis after former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse resigned from the position in July 2024, citing his wife’s battle with health issues.
Ono comes to UF after serving as the president of the University of Michigan, bringing a distinguished background in academic leadership and public health from institutions across the United States and Canada, the school said in a news release earlier this month.
“I am thankful for, and humbled by, the unanimous support of the Board of Trustees. The energy here at the University of Florida is palpable, and I am eager to join the wonderful students, faculty and staff of the Gator Nation,” Ono said. “I’m excited by the prospect of being part of such an exceptional institution that is so clear-eyed in its purpose. Let’s go do great things together.”
UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini responded with enthusiasm following Ono’s approval.
“Santa Ono is precisely the right person to be president of the University of Florida at this moment in its history,” Hosseini said. “He is a remarkably accomplished scholar [who] will ensure that merit and scholarship, not ideology, are the gold standards for success, and he will see to it that the University of Florida continues its ascent toward becoming America’s premier public university, bar none.”
During the interview on Tuesday, Ono spoke about his stance on issues like antisemitism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, climate change, and “the responsibility to defend democracy.”
Dr. Ono is a globally recognized researcher known for his work on the immune system and eye diseases. He earned his Ph.D. in experimental medicine from McGill University and his B.A. in biological sciences from the University of Chicago.
Other accolades include membership in the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and several other prestigious organizations.
His previous roles include president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia, president of the University of Cincinnati, and senior vice provost at Emory University.
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