University of Michigan’s 15th president, Santa J. Ono, has been named the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida. Once the appointment is approved by Florida’s Board of Governors, he is expected to assume the role and leave the University of Michigan.
“Serving as your president over these past three academic years has been a distinct honor,” Ono wrote in an email to the U-M community May 4. “Every day, I have been inspired beyond words by the vibrancy, brilliance, and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni.”
In a separate message, the Board of Regents expressed gratitude for Ono and his accomplishments and underscored their commitment to a smooth leadership transition. Ono has agreed to remain with the university as long as needed to establish an interim president.
“President Ono’s leadership is reflected in numerous achievements,” the board wrote in its message. “Over the course of his tenure, he has encouraged all of us to dream boldly, to fearlessly explore ideas, to push the boundaries of knowledge and to be daring in our plans so that we could achieve more than we ever thought was possible.” The board noted Ono’s successes “leave a legacy of which all of us – especially President Ono – can be proud.”
An experienced vision researcher recognized for pioneering work on the immune system and eye disease, Ono has served as president of U-M since October of 2022, after being unanimously appointed to the role by the Board of Regents. It was his third presidency, after serving as president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia and president and provost of the University of Cincinnati. Prior to those roles, he held the position of senior vice provost and deputy to the provost at Emory University and taught at Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and University College London.
He earned his B.A. in biological sciences from the University of Chicago in 1984 and a Ph.D. in experimental medicine from McGill University in 1991.
At U-M, Ono launched two university-wide initiatives — Vision 2034 and Campus Plan 2050 — which engaged more than 25,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and local community members in the development of a 10-year strategic vision for the university and a 25-year blueprint for the Ann Arbor campus.
In his message, Ono listed other accomplishments, including:
- Forging transformative partnerships with OpenAI and Los Alamos National Laboratory and launching a new $1.2 billion artificial intelligence research ecosystem
- Founding the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit, establishing the Raoul Wallenberg Institute and the Institute for Civil Discourse, initiating the Vision 2034 Faculty Enhancement Initiative, and launching a public arts endowment fund to commission and acquire public art
- Completing major projects, including new residential halls and a new Campus Recreation Center
- Expanding the Go Blue Guarantee and investing significantly in the Wolverine Pathways program
“I leave knowing that the Look to Michigan campaign is progressing ahead of schedule, with bold and clear goals that will secure an even brighter future,” Ono wrote Sunday. “I have every confidence that our exceptional leadership team, our deans and directors, and our Board of Regents will come together behind a new leader, ensuring that Michigan’s extraordinary momentum continues to serve the people of Michigan and the world.”
Tina Creguer
Buh-bye.