Florida's Board of Governors rejected Santa Ono's nomination as University of Florida president. Conservatives criticized Ono's past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The board's 10-6 vote against Ono, despite unanimous trustee approval, restarts the presidential search. Ono, former president of the University of Michigan, had attempted to align his views with Florida's conservative stance on higher education. The decision sparked debate about fairness and ideological requirements in university leadership.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.