Sun May 04 21:40:00 UTC 2025: ## UF Recommends Dr. Santa Ono as Sole Finalist for President

**Gainesville, FL** – The University of Florida (UF) Presidential Search Committee has unanimously chosen Dr. Santa J. Ono as the sole finalist for the university’s next president. Dr. Ono, currently president of the University of Michigan, boasts a distinguished career in academia and public health.

The announcement, made today, followed an extensive search process. Committee Chair Rahul Patel praised Dr. Ono’s “proven record of academic excellence, innovation and collaborative leadership,” stating he is ideally suited to build upon UF’s current momentum and lead it to new heights.

Dr. Ono, a world-renowned researcher specializing in the immune system and eye disease, has earned numerous accolades, including election to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. His leadership experience encompasses presidencies at the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati, as well as senior roles at Emory University and other prestigious institutions. He is also known for his successful fundraising efforts.

“Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one,” Dr. Ono said in a statement. He expressed his honor at being considered and highlighted UF’s unique position to lead in public higher education.

Dr. Ono will visit the Gainesville campus on May 6, 2025, for public forums with students, faculty, and administrators. The UF Board of Trustees will ultimately select the president, subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors. Strong endorsements for Dr. Ono came from UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini and Interim President Kent Fuchs, who described him as a “dream candidate.” Hosseini emphasized the Board’s commitment to making UF a leading institution nationally and internationally.

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