Amanda Phalin, a UF professor and former member of the board of governors, called the decision an “embarrassment” that could hurt the university for decades and make it harder for the state to recruit highly-qualified university leaders.
“This portends more politics in the process, and more politicians in the process across the state, and less focus on academics and academic excellence,” said Phalin, who attended the meeting.
But those who voted against Ono were critical of his previous advocacy for DEI policies.
“You’ve had a lot what seems to be long-held principles, and then 18 months ago, they kind of all changed,” said board member Aubrey Edge to Ono.
The university is now likely headed back to the drawing board to find a new president — a search process that can often take up to a year.
If the board had voted yes, Ono would have been under contract through 2030, earning $3 million annually. Ono came from Michigan, a school that Florida’s flagship university has long chased in national rankings. Michigan is ranked third nationally among public universities while UF is ranked 7th.
Tuesday’s meeting, which took place at the University of Central Florida’s downtown Orlando campus, lasted nearly four hours with just one item on the agenda — Ono’s appointment.
Ono sat surrounded by members of the board as he defended his record and expressed excitement about leading UF.
“It’s a privilege to join an institution that not only pursues excellence, but also sets the national standard for accountability and reform in higher education,” Ono said before the board voted him down.
Ono is a highly respected molecular immunologist who also served as president at the University of British Columbia and University of Cincinnati. UF’s board of trustees selected Ono as the sole finalist for president on May 27, praising his “record of academic excellence” and calling him “the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation.”
But that announcement quickly met with backlash from many conservatives who deem Ono too progressive for Florida as he had championed diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Michigan before saying he’s “evolved” on the issue. Florida has banned DEI, and UF and other state universities have dismantled their programs.
Christopher Rufo, a New College of Florida trustee and conservative firebrand, for example, called Ono’s selection a “scandal”, while Donald Trump Jr. called Ono a “woke psycho.” Sen. Rick Scott, a former state governor, criticized Ono’s handling of protests on Michigan’s campus in the wake of Hamas’ October attacks in Israel, saying Ono “stood by while a pro-terrorist encampment occupied the campus for an entire month” and questioning how Ono would protect Jewish students on UF’s campus.
Before the vote, Ono said he fully supports ending DEI programs in higher education and said he would ensure such initiatives never returned to UF.
He praised Florida’s direction for higher education and its recent reforms and laid out commitments to keeping the university aligned with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda.
“At Florida, you are redefining excellence, anchoring it in truth, merit and purpose. That’s the path forward, and that’s why I’m here before you today,” he said.
Ono’s employment contract, first reported by the Miami Herald on Monday, includes a list of “duties and responsibilities” that reads as if meant to address the concerns of conservative critics — and to make sure he follows DeSantis’ playbook. DeSantis signed the state’s anti-DEI law and has pushed to stamp out “woke” policies in state colleges and universities.
Ono, for example, would have to comply with both Florida and federal efforts to root out “waste, fraud and abuse” in higher education and could only hire a provost and deans who are “firmly aligned” with “Florida’s approach to higher education,” the document says.
One expert told the Herald it was an “unusual” list full of what amounts to “loyalty pledges.”
DeSantis, a Republican in his second term appointed most of the members of both the UF board and the board of governors, said last week some of Ono’s past statements made him “cringe” but also that those at UF who selected Ono were convinced he believes in “what Florida is doing and our policies,” according to Florida Politics, an online news site.
Before the vote, several UF leaders told the board why they wanted Ono.
Mori Hosseini, the chair of UF’s board of trustees and a major DeSantis donor, said Florida was “lucky” that someone of Ono’s prestige wanted to lead one of its universities.
“The appointment of Dr. Ono as the president of the University of Florida should be seen as a clear and consequential win for the Florida way,” he said.
Kent Fuchs, who served as UF’s president for nine years and currently serves as its interim president, said it that it was unusual for someone with Ono’s experience and credentials to be available for the job and that the Michigan leader would make an excellent UF president.
“Dr. Ono is an accessible person, a person who leads with warmth, who leads with courage, and indeed, will lead our system, as well as our university, to the next level,” Fuchs said.
But several people spoke against Ono’s selection, urging the board to vote against his appointment.
Wendy Nissan, a parent of UF students, said Ono failed Michigan’s Jewish students through his handling of campus protests.
“Florida doesn’t need someone who’s compromised in the past. We need a leader who’s always stood firm for order, fairness and conservative values, not someone who expanded DEI bureaucracies and folded under pressure,” she said.
Hosseini countered that Ono’s evolving view on DEI was not a compromise of conservative values but instead proof that Florida’s approach to higher education is resonating across the country.
“This isn’t a compromise, it’s a confirmation that our values are resonating and our model is winning,” he said.
Ono also faced criticism from board members.
Vice Chair Alan Levine asked Ono about Michigan’s gender affirming care for minors at its medical facilities and its response to the attacks by Hamas in Israel, criticizing him for those services and for not immediately releasing a statement to Michigan’s campus community following those attacks.
Ono pointed out that he released a statement a day later condemning the Hamas attacks and asking the campus community to be conscious and kind to one another.
Originally Published: June 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM EDT
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