Florida’s conservative firebrands are sounding alarms over Dr. Santa Ono’s potential presidency at the University of Florida.
Florida Republicans criticize Ono’s nomination due to his DEI-heavy record at the University of Michigan, while the Florida Board of Governors prepares to vote on his appointment on June 3, 2025.
The Daily Caller reported that Ono led the University of Michigan from 2023 to 2025. His tenure saw the nation’s largest DEI bureaucracy, costing a cool $250 million since 2016.
That’s a lot of green for programs that didn’t exactly foster campus harmony.
Under Ono, Michigan’s DEI initiatives included workshops on “recognizing racism” in daily life.
Critics argue these programs fractured the campus, making students and staff less likely to engage across racial, religious, or political lines. So much for unity.
An illegal pro-terrorist encampment also festered on Michigan’s campus for nearly a month. Jewish students felt unsafe, and Ono’s leadership took heat for letting it linger. Actions, or lack thereof, have consequences.
By May 2025, Ono resigned from Michigan after being tapped as a candidate for UF’s presidency. He hinted to UF’s Board of Trustees that he’d soured on DEI policies. Convenient timing, some might say.
UF’s Board of Trustees, led by DeSantis donor Mori Hosseini, voted to back Ono in May 2025. They praised his “exceptional academic credentials” and “principled leadership.” Sounds like a glowing resume, but not everyone’s buying it.
Hosseini and Trustee Vice Chair Rahul Patel called Ono a “builder” poised to make UF the top public university.
Yet, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds isn’t sold, pointing to Ono’s past claim that “systemic racism” lurks in every institutional corner. That’s a tough sell in Florida’s anti-woke climate.
Republican Sen. Rick Scott demanded answers, expressing “serious concerns” about Ono’s nomination. “There’s too much smoke,” said state Rep. Jimmy Patronis, urging UF to ditch Ono’s “Ann Arbor thinking.” The MAGA crowd wants a leader, not a lecture.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, known for battling progressive agendas, claimed neutrality on Ono’s nomination. He admitted some of Ono’s past comments made him “cringe” but trusted the search committee’s judgment. A rare hands-off moment for the governor.
DeSantis noted the committee believes Ono wants to align with Florida’s policies, leaving Michigan’s campus leftism behind. Still, conservatives wonder if a leopard can change its spots. Trust is earned, not assumed.
Ono’s alleged $15 million, five-year contract with UF raised eyebrows. That’s a hefty paycheck for someone with a controversial track record. Taxpayers might want a word.
The Florida Board of Governors will vote on Ono’s appointment in Orlando on June 3, 2025. Neither the board, DeSantis’ office, nor UF’s trustees commented to the Daily Caller News Foundation. Silence speaks volumes.
Ono himself was unreachable for comment, leaving questions unanswered. “We put students first and leave ideology at the door,” said Rep. Donalds, emphasizing Florida’s top-tier university system. Ono’s DEI baggage might clash with that mission.
