On Tuesday, Ron DeSantis secured another significant victory against diversity, equity, and inclusion measures with the decision to reject Santa Ono as the prospective president of the University of Florida.
The contentious prospective appointment faced hurdles weeks earlier when Ono’s advocacy for DEI and Critical Race Theory became a topic of concern. Despite the UF Board of Trustees’ predictable endorsement of the former President of Michigan University, along with his varied experiences, the ultimate decision needed the backing of the Florida Board of Governors.
This is where DeSantis’ influence, albeit indirectly, comes into play. The decision to reject Ono was reached with a 10-6 vote. Although the Florida governor did not sit on the decision-making board, many of its current members were appointed by him. It’s reasonable to infer that he appointed well-aligned individuals, as they maintained his commitment to eliminating DEI from the state’s educational system.
