Who is Santa Ono? University of Florida's sole finalist for next president post

The University of Florida’s presidential search committee unanimously recommended Dr Santa J Ono, current president of the University of Michigan , as the sole finalist to become UF’s 14th president. The announcement, made Sunday, follows a comprehensive nationwide search and positions Ono to lead Florida’s flagship public university pending approval by the UF Board of Trustees.

Dr Ono, a biomedical researcher and seasoned academic leader, has served as president of the University of Michigan since 2022. He previously held top leadership roles at the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati , where he earned a reputation for fostering innovation, promoting academic excellence, and championing diversity and mental health awareness.

“On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I am proud to announce Dr. Santa Ono as the sole finalist to be the University of Florida’s next president,” said Rahul Patel, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee.

In selecting Dr. Ono, the search committee cited his transformative leadership, collaborative style, and track record of elevating institutional reputation and research output. UF officials said they believe he is uniquely qualified to build on the university’s recent momentum and guide it to new heights as a national and global leader in higher education.


“Throughout an extensive and thorough process, we sought a leader who could match UF’s extraordinary momentum, understand its role as the flagship university of one of the most dynamic states in the country and inspire our community to reach even greater heights,” Rahul Patel, a UF trustee and chairman of the search committee, said in a prepared statement Sunday. “Dr. Ono’s proven record of academic excellence, innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice.”

“Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one at the University of Florida,” Ono said in a prepared statement. “No other public university combines UF’s momentum, its role as the flagship of one of the nation’s most important states, the extraordinary support from state leaders, and a shared vision across its entire community. These strengths make UF uniquely positioned not only to lead public higher education, but to stand among the most impactful institutions — public or private — in the world. I am honored and energized to be considered for this historic opportunity.”

"If I could select a dream candidate for the university’s next president, it would be Santa Ono,” said Kent Fuchs, UF's interim president, in the news release.