Ex-Michigan President Approved to Lead University of Florida

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The board of trustees at the University of Florida has given its nod to Santa Ono as the university’s prospective new leader. However, one final approval is needed from the state university system’s governing body for the appointment to be finalized. Ono previously held the position of president at the University of Michigan, and is in line to become the 14th president of the University of Florida.

    “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 expressed in a statement.

    According to state law, the school’s board of trustees is responsible for choosing the president, but the Florida Board of Governors must confirm the selection.

    Ono is set to take over from Kent Fuchs, who has been serving as the school’s interim president since last summer. Fuchs stepped in after Ben Sasse, a former U.S. Senator, left the position. Sasse had departed the U.S. Senate, where he represented Nebraska, to assume the university presidency in 2023.

    In July, Sasse announced his resignation from the role to prioritize his family following his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis. Reports soon emerged highlighting Sasse’s expenditure during his tenure, including hiring six former staffers and two former Republican officials in positions with salaries exceeding comparable roles. Additionally, he reportedly spent over $1.3 million on private catering for luxurious events, football tailgates, and other extravagant social functions in his first year, a figure nearly doubling the expenditures of his predecessor, Fuchs. Consequently, Fuchs returned to lead the university temporarily.