As the Chair of the UF Presidential Search Advisory Committee, it is my great pleasure to announce that the Search Committee has unanimously recommended Dr. Santa J. Ono, currently president of the University of Michigan, as the sole finalist for consideration by the Board of Trustees to serve as the 14th president of the University of Florida. 

After conducting 10 listening sessions across the university community of stakeholders and reaching out to over 100 individuals to assess their interest and fit for the University of Florida, the full Search Committee ultimately spoke to many highly qualified leaders, including almost 10 sitting presidents of major research and AAU universities. After spending time with each of these individuals, a unanimous decision was reached that Dr. Ono is uniquely qualified to lead UF to the next level.

More details are included in the press release below.  Please also keep an eye on the Presidential Search Website for additional information about Dr. Ono and the next steps of the search process.

Rahul Patel
Chair, UF Presidential Search Committee

DR. SANTA J. ONO UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED AS SOLE FINALIST FOR UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA’S 14TH PRESIDENT

Contact:
Steve Orlando
sfo@ufl.edu
352-215-4232

GAINESVILLE, FL (May 4, 2025) – The University of Florida Presidential Search Committee has unanimously and enthusiastically recommended Santa J. Ono, Ph.D., to be considered by its Board of Trustees as the sole finalist to become the University’s 14th president.

Dr. Ono currently serves as president of the University of Michigan and brings a distinguished record of leadership in academia and public health across the United States and Canada. 

“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. “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. Dr. Ono’s proven record of academic excellence, innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice. We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future.”

A world-renowned researcher recognized for pioneering work on the immune system and eye disease, Dr. Ono earned his Ph.D. in experimental medicine from McGill University and his B.A. in biological sciences from the University of Chicago. He has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, American Academy of Arts & Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Inventors, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Royal Society of Chemistry. Among his many leadership roles, Dr. Ono serves on the boards of the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Council on Competitiveness and chairs the Council of Presidents of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the University of Michigan Health Board, and Fulbright Canada. His past roles include president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia, president of the University of Cincinnati, and senior vice provost at Emory University. Dr. Ono is also widely recognized for his ability to cultivate philanthropic partnerships and lead ambitious fundraising efforts. He has also held faculty appointments at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Harvard University, and University College London. Additional information on Dr. Ono’s background, leadership, and honors will be forthcoming on the Presidential Search Website.

“Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one at the University of Florida,” said Dr. Ono. “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.”

Dr. Ono is scheduled to visit the Gainesville campus on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, for a series of public forums with students, faculty, and administrators. 

“I want to thank the Search Committee and the many members of the UF community who contributed to this process,” said Mori Hosseini, Chair of the UF Board of Trustees. “This is a great day for the University of Florida and the State of Florida. UF is on an extraordinary trajectory, and the Board remains fully committed to seeing UF become not only the best public university in the nation, but also one of the most influential institutions of higher learning in the country. We are grateful to our state’s government leaders for supporting this mission. I fully support this unanimous recommendation and am confident in Dr. Ono’s ability to guide UF to even greater success. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Ono, his wife Wendy Yip, and their daughters Juliana and Sarah to the Gator Nation.”

“If I could select a dream candidate for the University’s next president, it would be Santa Ono,” said Kent Fuchs, University of Florida Interim President. “His demonstrated record of success at the best universities, his leadership style, and caring personality have allowed him to work effectively with faculty, students, alumni, staff and other stakeholders everywhere he has been. I am confident that the future of the University will be in the best of hands with Santa Ono as our leader.”

As required by Florida law, the Presidential Search Committee was responsible for designing the search criteria, identifying and vetting a broad pool of qualified candidates, and recommending finalists to the Board of Trustees. The University of Florida Board of Trustees selects the university president, whose appointment is then subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors.