Statement from Regent Paul Brown has been added.
ANN ARBOR, MI – After just three years, Santa Ono is leaving his role as president of the University of Michigan.
Ono was chosen as the sole finalist for the same position at the University of Florida. He expects to assume that role this summer, he announced in a May 4 release through his UM office.
“I have informed the Chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, Kathy White, of my decision,” he said in the release. “This decision was not made lightly, given the deep bond (his wife) Wendy and I have formed with this extraordinary community.”
Multiple regents either did not respond or denied comment on the news for now.
Regent Paul Brown said it was “an honor and a privilege to work with him and his wonderful family.”
“I wish him the best of luck,” Brown said.
Ono was hired in October 2022 to replace Mark Schlissel after it was found Schlissel was in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. This firing occurred at the same time the university was dealing with litigation over the Dr. Robert Anderson sexual abuse scandal, as well as a number of reforms to its sexual misconduct reporting and investigation policy.
Ono was previously the president at the University of British Columbia, and before that the president of the University of Cincinnati.
The University of Florida announced Ono was named as its sole finalist for the president’s position in a May 4 release of its own. Its Board of Governors must approve Ono’s appointment to make it official.
“Dr. Ono’s proven record of academic excellence, innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice,” the Florida university said. “We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future.”
Ono would be the full-time replacement for former UF President Ben Sasse, who stepped down in July 2024.
His three-year tenure saw the unveiling of Campus Plan 2050, which outlines how the Ann Arbor campus will transform over the next 25 years. It also saw him help facilitate the deal to break ground on the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, which was long mired in stalled negotiations.
He and the Board of Regents also expanded the free tuition program known as the Go Blue Guarantee to families making $125,000 or less.
He and the board have also been criticized for cuts to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, including the closure of the Office of DEI. Pro-Palestinian activists also have said he and the board have overly cracked down on their protests and stifled free expression on campus.
Ono pointed in his farewell message to his administration founding the Institute for Civil Discourse, which aims to strengthen “debate and dialogue across diverse ideologies and political perspectives.”
“These accomplishments are a testament to the collaborative spirit, creativity, and dedication of our entire university community,” he said in Sunday release. “They reflect a deep commitment to ensuring that Michigan’s best days are still ahead.”
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