Ono, who has served as president of the University of Michigan since October 2022, must still receive confirmation from the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system. While typically a routine approval, Ono's candidacy has drawn unprecedented political attention due to his previous statements supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
During his final interview with trustees, Ono directly addressed criticism of his past positions, stating that some of his previous comments "do not reflect what I believe today." He pledged full support for Gov. Ron DeSantis's higher education overhauls that have dismantled DEI programs across Florida's public universities.
"Florida is showing the nation it's possible to elevate academic excellence without ideological indoctrination," Ono told the board. "I'm not coming to Gainesville to slow the pace of reform."
The selection concludes a secretive search process that began after former president Dr. Ben Sasse's abrupt resignation in July 2024. Sasse, the former Nebraska senator, left amid questions about his tenure and spending practices, leaving interim president Dr. Kent Fuchs to lead the institution.
Ono brings extensive leadership experience across major research universities in the United States and Canada. Before Michigan, he served as president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia and held leadership roles at the University of Cincinnati and Emory University. He has also taught at Johns Hopkins, Harvard and University College London.
As a scholar, Ono is a world-renowned vision researcher recognized for pioneering work on the immune system and eye disease. He has been elected to prestigious organizations including the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the National Academy of Inventors. He earned his bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Chicago in 1984 and a Ph.D. in experimental medicine from McGill University in 1991.
