Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker President Santa Ono signed a contract extension with the University of Michigan aimed at keeping him a Wolverine for at least another seven years but a notch or two below the stature of Michigan The question of what happened since October when the extension was signed affirming the university's satisfaction with Ono and making him among the nation's top-paid public university presidents has an answer too familiar in Michigan: board meddling Michigan regents wanted so much to keep Ono that they raised his pay to $1.3 million But not so much that they were willing to stay out of his way and let him do his job tried to pressure Ono into a confrontation with the Trump administration over the president's executive orders regarding woke policies campus antisemitism and how federal research dollars are spent No one expected the dispute to break what has been a harmonious relationship But when the regents took the disagreement public Florida seized the opportunity to land a superstar ended its search for a new president and offered Ono the post Ono leaves after just 2.5 years as the shortest-serving president in the school's history and the only one to ever leave for the presidency of another public university More: Past University of Michigan presidents The grievances between Ono and the board were not cumulative throughout this tumultuous year on college campuses the president and regents were largely aligned on policies to respond to protests and other issues Ono and the regents were in accord in shutting down the on-campus encampments erected by anti-Israel protesters a move that angered student and faculty groups They also stood together in rejecting calls to disinvest in Israel closing its DEI office and reassigning its resources The regents concurred that the programs encouraged antisemitism and created a hostile environment for Jewish students Ono and the board also worked together in replacing DEI with an array of new efforts to increase accessibility to UM for all students over how to respond to Trump's executive orders Ono's priority was to keep UM out of the administration's crosshairs He said privately he didn't want to put the university's research funding and non-profit tax status at risk There was no indication the administration was looking at Michigan wanted to make a public show of resistance to the orders Acker is up for election next year and faces a Democratic nominating process dominated by the far left The regents penned an op-ed presented to the New York Times urging UM to join Harvard and other major universities in defying Trump The piece implied Michigan lacked courage and moral clarity in staying silent Those close to the president say he took it as a personal affront to his leadership what could have been a long and productive relationship is over who previously served at the University of British Columbia he reveled in the 2023 football national championship But he could not abide such a public challenge who leans to the right politically and is a devout Christian Florida trustees are appointed by the governor who previously served as a Republican senator from Nebraska Florida also has a statewide university system that includes 12 colleges and 430,000 students with the University of Florida at its center It enjoys tremendous financial support from the state boasting that its extensive financial aid programs bring the average cost of an undergraduate degree to just $1,300 That's never the question; its presidency is among the most sought-after positions in academia The question is whether this board will allow the next president it hires to run the university Sign up for the Nolan Out Loud report. This story has been updated with additional information University of Michigan President Santa Ono said Sunday that he plans to leave Ann Arbor to become the next president of the University of Florida "I write today to share that I have been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida, and once the appointment is approved by their Board of Governors, I expect to assume that role later this summer," Ono wrote in a message to the Michigan community on the president office's website Ono wrote that he did not make the decision lightly and that he had already informed the chair of the university's Board of Regents "Serving as your president these past three academic years has been a distinct honor," he wrote the U-M Board of Regents thanked Ono for his service and noted that he has agreed to stay on until an interim president is named he has encouraged all of us to dream boldly 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 email said "We are working thoughtfully and expeditiously as we execute our transition plan and we will be sharing more details in the near future." The University of Florida announced the decision on its website saying Ono was chosen through an "extensive and thorough" selection process Ono’s proven record of academic excellence innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice," Rahul Patel chair of the presidential search committee "We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future.” A vision researcher whose work focuses on the immune system and eye diseases, Ono had previously served as president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati. When he was sworn in as Michigan’s 15th president in March 2023 climate change and racism were tasks that demanded attention and that Michigan was up to the task Ono initially signed a five-year contract that paid him $975,000 a year, plus an additional $350,000 in deferred compensation. In October, the Board of Regents extended his contract through 2032 and increased his base salary to $1.3 million per year Ono touted as accomplishments several initiatives urban outreach and the "Look to Michigan" campaign a $7 billion fund-raising effort that is more than half way to its goal He also noted the launch of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute to combat antisemitism and the planned Institute on Civic Discourse which aims to promote dialogue and understanding But his tenure at the University of Michigan has been marked by controversies, especially the school’s handling of protests against the Gaza War and its seeming reluctance to challenge some of the dictates of the Trump administration The school was accused at times, of doing too little to combat anti-semitism on campus and at other times of ignoring reports of Islamophobia Gaza War protesters have demanded the university divest its endowment holdings from companies doing business in Israel Vandals have attacked Ono's home and the homes of other U-M officials spray-painting pro-Palestinian messages and breaking windows U-M said it was shifting money out of DEI programs into more student-facing initiatives, including an expansion of the Go Blue Guarantee, which provides free tuition to in-state students whose household incomes are $125,000 or less. Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely props: {"enabled":true,"viewLimit":1,"excludeLabels":["Sponsored"],"timeframe":2592000000,"displayOverlay":false,"promoCode":"registration_meter","isLoggedIn":false,"requiresUserInput":false,"displayGate":true,"views":1} skipWhenExists: false }); Enjoy this free article CMSBrowserComponents.load({ el: '#vue-1746508400368-990' props: {"className":"content-meter__toggler","beforeExpanded":"Enjoy this free article.","beforeCollapsed":"Create a free account","targets":[".content-meter"],"toggleClass":"content-meter--open","iconModifiers":["xl"],"iconName":"chevron-up","initiallyExpanded":true,"expandedIconName":"chevron-down"} skipWhenExists: false });Create a free Diverse: Issues In Higher Education account to continue reading Ono has announced his departure after a remarkably brief three-year tenure accepting the sole finalist position for the presidency at the University of Florida Ono confirmed he plans to transition to his new role this summer pending approval from Florida's Board of Governors given the deep bond Wendy and I have formed with this extraordinary community," Ono said in his announcement to the Michigan community Ono's short-lived presidency began in October 2022 when he was appointed to replace Dr who was terminated after an investigation revealed an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate The leadership transition occurred during a turbulent period for the university which was simultaneously managing litigation related to the Dr Robert Anderson sexual abuse scandal and implementing reforms to its sexual misconduct policies Before joining Michigan, Ono served as president at the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati, establishing himself as an experienced higher education administrator before taking the helm at Michigan. In 2015, Diverse profiled Ono. His brief tenure at Michigan saw several notable developments including the unveiling of Campus Plan 2050 a comprehensive blueprint for the Ann Arbor campus's future development; progress on the University of Michigan Center for Innovation in Detroit; and the expansion of the Go Blue Guarantee which now offers free tuition to families earning $125,000 or less Ono's administration has faced significant criticism for reducing investments in Diversity including the controversial closure of the Office of DEI Pro-Palestinian student activists have also criticized the administration's handling of campus protests claiming the university has restricted free expression and employed excessive measures to limit demonstrations Ono highlighted the establishment of the Institute for Civil Discourse as one of his accomplishments describing it as an initiative aimed at strengthening "debate and dialogue across diverse ideologies and political perspectives." "These accomplishments are a testament to the collaborative spirit and dedication of our entire university community," Ono said "They reflect a deep commitment to ensuring that Michigan's best days are still ahead." The University of Michigan Board of Regents has not yet announced plans for identifying Ono's successor or appointing an interim president The University of Florida cited Ono's "proven record of academic excellence innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions" in their announcement (WXYZ) — University of Michigan President Santa Ono announced on Sunday that he has been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida and plans to take the role later this summer after the appointment is approved Report: U-M president announces decision to step down Ono has been president of the university for the past three years In a letter to the University of Michigan community on Sunday he said that serving the university “has been a distinct honor.” “The University of Michigan — and the State of Michigan — have forever captured my heart It has been a profound privilege to be part of this extraordinary community and this remarkable state,” he wrote Read the full letter here. The University of Florida's Presidential Search Committee announced that Dr the current president at the University of Michigan is the sole finalist to become the university's 14th president chair of the search committee and a member of UF's board of trustees made the announcement in an email to the university community on Sunday “Throughout an extensive and thorough process we sought a leader who could match UF’s extraordinary momentum understand its role as the flagship university of one of the most dynamic states in the country and inspire our community to reach even greater heights," Patel said in the announcement innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future," he added who holds a doctorate in experimental medicine from McGill University has held previous faculty appointments at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Harvard University and University College London He served as president of the University of Cincinnati from 2012 to 2016 and at the University of British Columbia in Canada from 2016 to 2022 "If I could select a dream candidate for the university’s next president “His demonstrated record of success at the best universities and caring personality have allowed him to work effectively with faculty staff and other stakeholders everywhere he has been I am confident that the future of the University will be in the best of hands with Santa Ono as our leader.” Ono expected on campus in Gainesville on May 6According to the release Ono will be in Gainesville on May 6 to meet with students “Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one at the University of Florida,” Ono said in the release “No other public university combines UF’s momentum its role as the flagship of one of the nation’s most important states the extraordinary support from state leaders and a shared vision across its entire community "These strengths make UF uniquely positioned not only to lead public higher education but to stand among the most impactful institutions — public or private — in the world I am honored and energized to be considered for this historic opportunity,” he added Ono's appointment must then be confirmed by Florida's Board of Governors Government Relations and Internal Affairs at a Feb 25 meeting unanimously approved a compensation package for UF's next president of up to $3 million Ono's base salary if hired by UF has not yet been revealed The agreement came just two years after Ono began his term as president in October 2022 George Mason University Professor Emeritus of Public Policy James Finkelstein called the contract "unprecedented in public higher education." In a twist Finkelstein also noted at the time that the only other public university to offer a contract of this magnitude was the University of Florida to Ben Sasse Sasse announced his stunning resignation in July 2024 after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy who served as UF president from 2015 to 2023 was quickly appointed by the board of trustees to serve as interim president The selection of the former Republican U.S senator for Nebraska received almost immediate backlash from the university community due to his anti-abortion stance and being accused of not supporting the LGBTQ community People also were upset with how the search for a new president unfolded with Sasse being named the sole finalist after a months-long presidential search involving over 700 candidates UF officials claimed no other finalist wanted to come forward unless they were chosen as the sole finalist Sasse was criticized by some and lauded by others for his handling of pro-Palestinian protests on UF's Plaza of the Americas While many protests on university campuses across the country had escalated into violence Nine protesters were arrested after a days-long sit-in following what demonstrators called unfair rules and restrictions enacted by the university Ono also has faced backlash over the University of Michigan's handling of pro-Palestinian protesters In December 2024, a federal lawsuit was filed against UM Ono and others over the university's handling of the protests It alleges that the school selectively targeted student protesters over their beliefs and took a more hardline approach to disciplining them compared to protesters involved with other causes Ono has emerged as the lone finalist to lead the state’s flagship university The University of Florida Presidential Search Committee announced Sunday that it “has unanimously and enthusiastically recommended” Ono be considered as the sole finalist by the UF Board of Trustees “On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee Santa Ono as the sole finalist to be the University of Florida’s next president,” said Rahul Patel Chair of the Presidential Search Committee and inspire our community to reach even greater heights We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future.” UF touted Ono’s status as a “world-renowned researcher recognized for pioneering work on the immune system and eye disease.” Ono earned a Ph.D in experimental medicine from McGill University and an undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the University of Chicago “Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one at the University of Florida,” Ono said in a prepared statement These strengths make UF uniquely positioned not only to lead public higher education I am honored and energized to be considered for this historic opportunity.” Ono will visit UF campus in Gainesville on Tuesday for a series of public forums with students “I want to thank the Search Committee and the many members of the UF community who contributed to this process,” said Mori Hosseini “This is a great day for the University of Florida and the State of Florida and the Board remains fully committed to seeing UF become not only the best public university in the nation but also one of the most influential institutions of higher learning in the country “We are grateful to our state’s government leaders for supporting this mission I fully support this unanimous recommendation and am confident in Dr Ono’s ability to guide UF to even greater success and their daughters Juliana and Sarah to the Gator Nation.” “If I could select a dream candidate for the University’s next President His demonstrated record of success at the best universities Ono’s appointment must be confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors the University of Michigan under Ono’s leadership has been in litigation over alleged sex abuse by late university President Robert Anderson and the school was in the process of implementing new reporting and investigation policies around sexual misconduct allegations Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL © Copyright by Extensive-Enterprises 2025. All rights reserved. STAFF LOGIN University of Michigan President Santa Ono announced Sunday that he will step down from leading the university after being selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida Ono wrote that he expects to assume the new role later this summer once the appointment is approved by the University of Florida's board of governors “I have informed the Chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents given the deep bond Wendy and I have formed with this extraordinary community.” urging him to enlist the university in resistance against President Donald Trump's threats to strip colleges of research dollars unless they end their DEI efforts scrub curricula of far-left ideology and aggressively combat antisemitism Ono has served as UM's president for slightly more than 2.5 years making his tenure the shortest in university history his tenure will be shorter than Lee Bollinger who resigned in 2001 after six years to lead Columbia University Ono's two predecessors held the positions longer: Mary Sue Coleman served 12 years before retiring in 2014 and Mark Schlissel served 7.5 years before he was removed by the Board of Regents in 2022 ► READ MORE: Past University of Michigan presidents Ono has served as the 15th president of the University of Michigan since October 2022 He called serving as UM's president during the past three academic years a distinct honor I have been inspired beyond words by the vibrancy “I will miss the extraordinary intellectual vitality that fills our classrooms and laboratories the sublime sounds of our musical and theatrical performances and the roar of fans cheering on the Wolverines — or singing ‘Mr More: Hall of Famer Derek Jeter tells UM graduates passion is key to success As the news broke Sunday evening of Ono's plans to depart Ann Arbor the University of Florida also announced its presidential search committee unanimously recommended Ono to be considered by its board of trustees as the sole finalist to become the university’s 14th president Santa Ono as the sole finalist to be the University of Florida’s next president,” Rahul Patel chair of the Presidential Search Committee said he could not provide a comment about Ono's announcement because he said he had just learned of the news 45 minutes prior: "I don't have all the facts," he said Controversies and challengesOno said earlier this year that the University of Michigan is facing enormous challenges as it navigates executive orders issued by Trump Ono and other university leaders recently closed the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and shifted resources to other student programs pre-professional counseling and other efforts that strengthen community promote a sense of belonging and expand accessibility." the University of Michigan's Faculty Senate adopted a resolution that called on the university's administration to enter into a mutual defense pact with other members of the Big Ten to collectively resist threats to academic freedom and other actions by the Trump administration Nearly 93% of University of Michigan Faculty Senate voters backed the resolution Other supported resolutions urged UM administrators to maintain or reinstate all legally permissible diversity and inclusion initiatives and to safeguard international faculty and staff from unwarranted detention by U.S In pushing Ono to join the fight against the Trump administration's efforts to direct curricula and combat what they call virulent antisemitism on U.S some UM regents called for more from the school's president "Now is the time to stand up and be counted," said Regent Mark Bernstein "It's not the time to stand in the shadows We need to do a better job of speaking with clarity and purpose about our work around diversity." A report in 2024 by the New York Times on UM’s DEI initiatives estimated them to cost $250 million "We are eliminating bureaucratic overspending and making Michigan more accessible," wrote Regent Sarah Hubbard "I will continue to push for even greater financial support for talented students with financial need." More: Former employees sue UM, allege they were fired following pro-Palestine protests Ono's impending departure also comes amid a lawsuit filed by eight former University of Michigan employees alleging they were fired and banned from working at the university because they spoke out in support of Palestinians' human rights and called on UM to divest from Israel The suit also accuses the board of regents of dismissing the employees without proper notice The plaintiffs said the climate on campus has changed significantly since the Oct Hamas attack and subsequent escalation of the Israel-Gaza war The University of Michigan saw a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus that lasted nearly a month Ono cited fire safety concerns as the reason for the university’s decision to dismantle the encampment Finley: University of Michigan regents push Ono to defy Trump Ono joined UM from the University of British Columbia after the school wrestled with turmoil such as the regents' January 2022 firing of then-President Mark Schlissel after an investigation found inappropriate conduct with an employee The university also grappled with sexual assault scandals including one involving the late-physician Robert Anderson who was accused of sexually assaulting former students which led to a settlement in September 2022 with more than 1,000 people of $490 million From the archives: Santa Ono opens up on life, what he'll bring to UM Regents ratified a new contract for Ono in October extending his presidency at the time another eight years to 2032 after serving as president for two years The new contract also boosted his base salary to $1.3 million which is 33% more than the $975,000 annual salary he got when starting in 2022 The only other public university president to rival Ono's contract at that time was the one for former University of Florida President Ben Sasse University of Michigan president Santa Ono says he’s planning to leave his post for a new job in Florida. Ono released a letter from the U-M Office of the President, announcing he’s a finalist for the same job at the University of Florida. "I write today to share that I have been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida, and once the appointment is approved by their Board of Governors, I expect to assume that role later this summer. I have informed the Chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, Kathy White, of my decision. This decision was not made lightly, given the deep bond Wendy and I have formed with this extraordinary community," Ono wrote. "The University of Michigan — and the State of Michigan — have forever captured my heart. It has been a profound privilege to be part of this extraordinary community and this remarkable state." Ono took over as U-M president in October of 2022. "In the weeks ahead, I will work closely with the Chair of the Board of Regents to ensure a smooth and seamless transition," Ono added. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Ken Haddad has been with Local 4/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He helps lead news coverage and content across broadcast and digital platforms. He's from the Metro Detroit area, and loves covering important news (and sports) in his hometown. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Bexon Harrison recently focused full time on swimming after doing that and water polo for much of his high school career Louisville head coach and CSCAA President Arthur Albiero co-led an NCAA Division I breakout session where coaches discussed the marketability of the sport who has worked with swimmers to optimize performance through data and analysis of stroke techniques Breaststroke specialist Landry Liston has announced her commitment to continue both her academic and athletic careers at George Mason University The university reduced the fundraising goal to save the swimming and diving program by $5 million after an April meeting with organizers May 05th, 2025 College, News The University of Florida has identified its next president and the hire has swimming ties on a couple of fronts Ono had been unanimously recommended as the sole finalist to serve as the university’s 14th president Ono will head to Gainesville after serving the same role at the University of Michigan since July 2022 He is expected to assume his new role this summer and will replace Ben Sasse Before this year’s NCAA championships, Ono helped secure special equipment and developed a team of researchers who aimed to improve the speed of swimmers off of the blocks The second tie to swimming from Santa Ono’s hiring at Florida is that he has a reputation for being more supportive of athletics than usual for a university president While serving as president for the University of Cincinnati from 2012-2016 Ono was credited for shifting more taxpayer-funded subsidies to its athletic department which included a renovation of Fifth Third Arena on Cincinnati’s campus Ex-Cincinnati athletic director Mike Bohn said that Ono was a “game-changer for us in athletics” to the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2016 When he was introduced as president of Michigan Ono made it a point to emphasize the importance of athletics “It’s a point of great pride for the institution,” he said I think there’s a tremendous synergy between academics and athletics.” That could be music to the ears of a Florida swimming program that saw its men’s team finish 4th and its women’s team 6th at this year’s NCAA championships Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Maybe Incoming President Ono can convince A.D Having Katie Ledecky and Caleb Dressel training in your current pool should certainly make the sales pitch to donors a bit easier More from Keith DunlapSee All Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our latest updates The Presidential Search Advisory Committee named Santa J Ono the lone finalist for UF’s 14th president in an announcement Sunday afternoon The recommendation comes nine months after former UF President Ben Sasse resigned from the position.  Ono currently serves as the University of Michigan’s president He was formerly president of the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati Beyond his experience in university administration Ono was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the American Council of Education Ono praised UF in its role as the state’s flagship university saying he’s “honored and energized to be considered for this historic opportunity.”  While Ono has an extensive background in academia he notably lacks any experience in politics — something his predecessor drew frequent criticism for.  Former UF president Ben Sasse came from a political background, formerly serving as a U.S. senator for Nebraska. Sasse’s election fueled concerns within the UF community that political leaders like Gov Ron DeSantis were trying to unduly influence higher education sparking widespread protests on campus.  the chair of the presidential search committee said in a press release that the unanimous decision came from the committee’s confidence that Ono will “build on UF’s strong foundation.”  UF spokesman Steve Orlando declined to comment further on Ono’s recommendation citing the university press release.  The committee reached out to over 450 possible candidates 10 of whom were sitting presidents of institutions part of the Association of American Universities an organization of research universities.  The presidential search committee defined search criteria and vetted candidates but the Board of Trustees must vote to select the president The appointment is also subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors The next Board of Trustees meeting will be on June 5 “I fully support this unanimous recommendation and am confident in Dr Ono’s ability to guide UF to even greater success,” Mori Hosseini Ono will visit the UF campus on May 6 to attend public forums with students Each forum will be held at the Emerson Hall President’s Ballroom the student forum will take place at 2:25 p.m and the administrator and staff forum will begin at 3:30 p.m Kylie Williams and Delia Rose Sauer contributed to this report University of Michigan President Santa Ono is expected to leave Ann Arbor to take the same position at an SEC school: Santa Ono’s time as president of the University of Michigan appears to be over In a letter he put out to the community on Sunday Ono announced his intentions to leave for the same position at the University of Florida I write today to share that I have been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida and once the appointment is approved by their Board of Governors I expect to assume that role later this summer I have informed the Chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents given the deep bond Wendy and I have formed with this extraordinary community Serving as your president over these past three academic years has been a distinct honor I will miss the extraordinary intellectual vitality that fills our classrooms and laboratories and the roar of fans cheering on the Wolverines — or singing “Mr I will miss working alongside the UM Health Board to advance our world-class health system Wendy and I will miss the many friends we have made here friendships that we will treasure for a lifetime Wendy has loved engaging with every part of this special community The University of Michigan — and the State of Michigan — have forever captured my heart It has been a profound privilege to be part of this extraordinary community and this remarkable state I have every confidence that our exceptional leadership team 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 I will work closely with the Chair of the Board of Regents to ensure a smooth and seamless transition This is a developing story and will be updated Michigan president Santa Ono plans to leave for the same role at Florida, he announced in a letter Sunday afternoon He departs Ann Arbor after three years as the president of the university “I write today to share that I have been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida I expect to assume that role later this summer,” Ono wrote “Serving as your president over these past three academic years has been a distinct honor Prior to serving as the president at Michigan, Ono was also a president at Cincinnati (2012-16) and the University of British Columbia (2016-22). He received a bachelor’s degree with a major in biological science form the University of Chicago in 1984 and Doctor of Philosophy in experimental medicine from McGill University in Canada in 1991. Ono completed his postdoctorate fellowship at Harvard University. He would later serve as the senior vice provost for undergraduate education and academic affairs at Emory University from 2006-10. He was named senior vice president for academic affairs and university provost at Cincinnati in 2010, two years before he assumed the role of president. Top 101Shane BeamerPuts NCAA on blast Hot3Trump By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein. Florida later announced the hiring of Ono on its website. He will replace Ben Sasse, who resigned in 2024. “On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I am proud to announce Dr. Santa Ono as the sole finalist to be the University of Florida’s next president,” said Rahul Patel, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “Throughout an extensive and thorough process, we sought a leader who could match UF’s extraordinary momentum, understand its role as the flagship university of one of the most dynamic states in the country, and inspire our community to reach even greater heights. “Dr. Ono’s proven record of academic excellence, innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice. We are confident he is the right person to build on UF’s strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future.” Hot3Trump, Saban blastedNIL order ripped On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media In celebration of her upcoming retrospective in Chicago as well as her new biography and documentary explore Yoko Ono's career-long renegade attitude Although she essentially retired from the spotlight during the pandemic, 2025 is fast becoming the year of Yoko Ono The countercultural icon is the subject of both a new biography by longtime friend, writer David Sheff, and One to One: John and Yoko, a big screen documentary based on the titular 1972 benefit concert she staged with her other half. Both works further prove that Ono is far from the Beatles-destroying scarlet woman she’s been portrayed as ever since she met John Lennon She is a creative visionary in her own right Indeed, Ono, whose artwork retrospective, Music of the Mind, hits Chicago’s Griffin Galleries of Contemporary Art in October Not only did she — according to the court of public opinion anyway — facilitate the break-up of the world’s most influential band she also steered its leader toward an experimental world that most of the mainstream found impenetrable the British press were so hostile toward Ono that she and Lennon had no choice but to flee to the other side of the Atlantic To paraphrase one of her defining musical endeavors here are nine reasons why everyone should give Yoko a chance Ono also collaborated with and drew influences from some of the most forward-thinking names in the creative world. She joined the periphery of Fluxus, an innovative avant-garde collective heavily inspired by the Dadaist movement. Meanwhile, her Manhattan loft hosted performances from minimalistic genius LaMonte Young and classes from her celebrated music theorist mentor John Cage In the same year that their great love story began, John Lennon and Yoko Ono also decided to make sweet, if highly experimental, music together. Initially credited to their own names, the duo's prolific output was eventually released under the umbrella of Plastic Ono Band And while the former Beatle inevitably attracted the most attention his wife was often the driving creative force Lennon won four GRAMMYs during his time with the Beatles but his only accolade outside the Fab Four came posthumously when Double Fantasy was crowned Album Of The Year in 1982 the late singer also had to share the award with his widow who penned and performed half of its 14 tracks Lennon's offerings might have provided the hits — "Watching the Wheels," "Woman," and chart-topper "Just Like (Starting Over)" all made the upper reaches of the Hot 100 But Ono contributions such as the new wave disco of "Kiss Kiss Kiss," big band throwback "Yes I'm Your Angel," and heartfelt familial tribute "Beautiful Boys" all helped to maintain a dialogue which tragically considering the events immediately after the release suggested they were still in the full throes of domestic bliss As the saying goes, from great suffering comes great art. Alongside the likes of Sufjan Stevens' Carrie and Lowell, Nick Cave's Skeleton Tree Ono's fifth LP Season of Glass is widely accepted as one of the all-time great albums spawned from a period of unimaginable grief Ono clearly refused to shy away from her partner Lennon's shocking murder the record is adorned with the controversial image of his bloodstained glasses while "No No No" opens with the sound of four gunshots and a piercing scream But the newly widowed star also manages to capture both her innate sadness and that of the entire world on a string of affecting alternative lullabies with "Even When You’re Far Away" featuring a heartbreaking narration from then-five-year-old son Sean While most of Ono's chart success has been in conjunction with her late husband, the cult favorite still has several solo hits under her belt. "Walking on Thin Ice," for example, reached No. 58 on the Hot 100 and made the Top 40 across the other side of the Atlantic It also gave the maverick her only solo GRAMMY nod in the category of Best Rock Vocal Performance Ono also graced the Billboard 200 with five of her first six albums Starpeace's lead single "Hell in Paradise" made it to No.12 on the U.S While that would be Ono's last notable chart action for a good 16 years she came back with a vengeance in the early 2000s After a decade in the musical wilderness, Ono returned to the fray with 1995's Rising and an accompanying remix album which featured contributions from Adam Yauch, Ween, and Tricky It was a comeback which not only introduced her to a whole new generation but also sparked a well-deserved reevaluation of her pioneering career it has been my position that her songwriting has been criminally overlooked."  In 2003, Ono highlighted once again how she's a master of reinvention when she fully embraced the dance music scene, dropping her Christian name for a series of floorfilling collabs with the likes of Pet Shop Boys, Danny Tenaglia The new version of "Walking on Thin Ice" even topped Billboard's Dance Club chart "But now that I am very involved with making dance tracks Ono has also spread her message at high profile events such as the 2006 Winter Olympics, conceived the LennonOno Grant for Peace to help artists living in areas of conflict, and helped to design the Imagine Peace Tower a light memorial at Iceland's Viðey Island honoring Lennon's signature hit As someone who's arguably endured and overcome more misogyny than any other figure in rock 'n' roll Ono has deservedly been hailed as a feminist icon But she's also earned that label through her own agency particularly the powerful themes and messages in her creative endeavors Welcome AAPI Heritage Month 2025 With A Playlist Featuring JENNIE Meet Lyn Lapid: Definitely Not A 'Buzzkill' TOKiMONSTA On Grief & Good Music: How 'Eternal Reverie' Pays Homage To Everlasting Friendship Kalani Pe'a's Guide To Hawaiian Music: 10 Releases That Showcase The Magic Of The Islands Margaret Cho's Musical Gift: The Comedian's On Her New Album Of Vulnerable From Fanny To Madam Wong's & The GRAMMYs: How The Asian Community Has Impacted Rock 10 Rising Japanese Pop Groups To Know: Number_i 6 Indian Hip-Hop Artists To Know: Hanumankind 5 Songs To Get Into Japanese Breakfast: Tracks From 'For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women),' 'Jubilee' & More 10 K-Pop Songs That Celebrate Women's Strength & Authenticity JO1's Big Year: Follow The J-Pop Group's Rise Appearance To One Of Japan's Biggest Venues Breaking Down Every Solo Act From BTS: Singles Debut Albums & What's Next For The Septet Get To Know The Many Sounds Of Asian Pop: From The Philippines' BGYO To Hong Kong's Tyson Yoshi & Thai Singer Phum Viphurit A Guide To Cantopop: From Beyond And Sam Hui To Anita Mui 5 Artists Showing The Future Of AAPI Representation In Rap: Audrey Nuna The Evolution Of Bollywood Music In 10 Songs: From "Awaara Hoon" To "Naatu Naatu" How Arooj Aftab Reimagined Genre & Made GRAMMY History | Run The World The K-Pop Group Nile Rodgers Chose For His First Foray Into The Genre 5 Things To Know About Yoshiki: A Musical Childhood 5 AAPI Arts Organizations To Support (And 5 Awesome AAPI Initiatives To Back Recording Academy AAPI Members & Leaders On Where The Fight's Led Them And The Road Ahead Silence Is Golden: Chad Hugo On The Neptunes’ Otherworldly Success Composers Of 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' Behind The Smoke & Mirrors With Japanese Psych-Rock Legends Kikagaku Moyo How Avicii Inspired CHYL To Leave Finance For A Full-Time Career In Music | Behind The Board Tyler Shaw & Taku Hirano Talk Experiences In Music Industry Subtleties & Purpose: 7 Musicians Pushing Ancient Asian Instruments Into The Future Alex Ritchie & More During "Let Our Story Be Heard: A Conversation With AAPI Creators And Professionals" Smith/Getty Images; Scott Dudelson/Getty Images; Justin Shin/Getty Images; John Nacion/Getty Images This genre-spanning playlist features tracks by emerging and established artists — from Toro y Moi and Saweetie to Hana Vu resilient history and achievements of Asian and Pacific Islander communities have been celebrated in the United States as AAPI Heritage Month these artists and their American peers are breaking down the stereotype that AAPI artists are confined to a single sound Celebrate the AAPI experience with GRAMMY.com’s genre-spanning playlist below featuring 20 songs from familiar favorites and rising stars alike 'Simula At Wakas,' out in the world the quintet share stories and meanings behind some of their most important songs Filipino pop group SB19 are characterized by their daring spirit — no challenge is too big or too arduous for the quintet to endure. Since debuting in 2018, the group have earned both international and local accolades, achieved historic firsts and have helped bring P-pop beyond its borders SB19's journey began when members Pablo Ken and Justin were recruited by a Korean company to create a Filipino group meant for the global spotlight SB19's trainee process was rigorous and filled with exhausting days that not only calibrated their technical abilities "Each one of us had a different perception back then and we used to dream quite differently about the artists we wanted to be in the future," Justin tells GRAMMY.com "I think we're just still on the quest of achieving our dreams Though their success was not without setbacks, from a possible early dissolution to dealing with hostile remarks online and the group are now celebrated for their razor-sharp vocal dexterity and genre-defying soundscape Read more: 14 Pinoy Pop Acts You Should Know: G22, Maki, KAIA, ALAMAT, & More A big part of SB19's prosperity is a result of their creative freedom skillfully orchestrated by group leader Pablo SB19 have developed a distinct artistic voice — one that found clarity with their first EP and became even more vibrant with its sequel the group finds its way back together with Simula At Wakas ("Start and End" in English) the group's third extended play is a return to form that brings the trilogy to a close while opening a new chapter Learn more: Get To Know The Many Sounds Of Asian Pop: From The Philippines' BGYO To Hong Kong's Tyson Yoshi & Thai Singer Phum Viphurit With the release of Simula At Wakas already here take a journey through five songs that trace SB19's story —– with insights from the members themselves The lyrics of "Go Up" — SB19's second single after their debut — manifest the group's determination to earn their place in the Filipino music industry That strong-willed fire comes through over an energetic pop backdrop with each section underscoring the song's message of persevering against all odds "All your doubts (Doubt) / Are my wings just like Garuda's (Ruda) / 'Cause I'm gonna go up!" The track could have been SB19's final shot, as the quintet poured everything into a last-ditch effort to breakthrough. While initial reception was underwhelming, destiny intervened when a user on X (formerly Twitter) shared a video of the group's dance practice — a routine the members have said they rehearsed a thousand times The clip went viral and ultimately saved their careers "We were on the verge of giving up," Josh shares we would disband the group already." A few weeks after releasing their dance practice "we were blowing up and surprised about the turnaround." It is a watershed moment and one the group still considers crucial Ken describes "Go Up," as a song that "keeps us grounded" because it is an anchor that reminds them of their roots: the countless hours of practice and the obstacles that once threatened to bring them down "I'm just happy whenever I hear 'Go Up' because I remember our trainee days," says Pablo but we had each other and that's all we needed." Though "MAPA" is an emotional and sonic departure from SB19's usual intensity it is the shiniest jewel in their discography The title of the song combines the syllables "MA" from mama (mother) and "PA" from papa (father) while also referencing the English word "map," conveying how SB19's parents have been the guiding map that has led their way "MAPA" was created during the early uncertain days of the pandemic to express the group's gratitude for their parents' unconditional love "We are trying to achieve our goals and dreams we tend to neglect the important things," he explains "One very important thing for me is my family because I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for them They sacrificed a lot for me to be able to go through this path I just want to reciprocate all the love that I have received from them through this music and through what we're doing right now." The magic of "MAPA" lies in its poignant depth the importance of family gives the track even greater resonance — particularly for Filipinos living abroad and I think they miss their families back here," he says "We see some Filipinos reacting to our videos and they cry their hearts out just because of the song Pablo adds that the first melodies are especially meaningful and "very real" to him as they are inspired by a cherished memory of his grandmother but I remember her singing those [melodies] to me when I was a kid but I can only thank her from the Philippines but I know that she's in good hands." From the beginning, SB19 encountered criticism — not just for their appearance, but also for allegedly lacking "their own identity" and copying K-pop groups The quintet turned that rejection into fuel with the defiant "Bazinga," the third single from Pagsibol The title originates from the catchphrase "Bazinga!" popularized by Sheldon Cooper the eccentric protagonist of "The Big Bang Theory"  — one of Pablo's favorite series But while Sheldon used it as an ironic punchline Pablo redefined it as both defiance and proud self-affirmation and I'll burn y'all 'til I die "When you're starting to get recognition haters will definitely come and a lot of people will not really like what you are doing so you cannot please everyone," says Justin of the song's temper "We just wanted to show we won’t be affected by the negativities that they are giving and we're just making fun of all the things they throw against us." "Bazinga" topped Billboard's Hot Trending Songs chart for 26 weeks there was no better response to the pushback than turning it into success it sounds like you're teasing someone and the whole messaging of the song really contributed to clapping back at the haters who have been putting us down," says Pablo "GENTO" is one of the most iconic tracks that captures SB19's ethos: a volcanic presence on stage and a fierce sound that remains true to its message The song elevated the group's fame to another level; "I think 'Gento' is the one song that opened lots of doors for people to know who SB19 is," Pablo says "GENTO" — another Pablo composition this time in collaboration with his brother Joshua Daniel Nase and Filipino Canadian producer Simon Servida —  incorporates hip-hop elements where a thumping bass drives the rhythm and highlights the group's diverse vocal tones Ken notes that the song's pinnacle comes in the final section when the sound of a flute breaks in and intensifies the weight of the melody "That flute is not the kind of instrument that is commonly used by a lot of producers and modern hip-hop," he says "I think that one instrument gives that punch and nasty kind of feeling to 'GENTO.'"  SB19 used "GENTO" to mirror how they've risen and shaped their identity That's not to say they're arrogant The word "GENTO" isn't chosen at random: it comes from the Caviteño dialect of Filipino and it's a variation of ganito (or "like this" in English) while also referencing ginto The song was paired with high-octane choreography that sparked a viral TikTok trend — with many artists ranging from K-pop stars to professional dancers joining in When asked about the secret to its popularity Stell suggests it likely stems from the song's imposing nature it gives you a different aura you're not used to That's the one reason why a lot of dancers and artists did the choreography The group hadn’t anticipated such an explosive response I'm not sure or I don't know how it [happened]," Pablo admits with a laugh we were shocked that 'GENTO' was going viral and even the K-pop artists that we look up in terms of performance they did 'GENTO.' It's a really SB19 opened the Simula At Wakas era with the release of "DAM," a song with an anthemic gravitas This single is game-changing: it embodies their decision to take full control of their careers and reaffirms the artistic direction they wish to pursue "It's been a year since we started our own company [called 1Z Entertainment] 'DAM,' is the first and the biggest project that is really 100 percent controlled by us," says Justin who also serves as the creative director of the group as well as other P-pop artists "We really went all out and just did whatever we wanted and whatever we could." Taking the word "pakiramdam," which translates to "feeling" in English and Filipino folk — palpites with the strength of those who refuse to surrender The members of SB19 take on the roles of wizards and warriors each confronting their own battles — a nod to their personal stories — which ultimately converge at the Tree of Life so we had these meetings and brainstormed to find the right ingredients to make it close to perfection," Josh explains but it's perfect to us because it's authentic We had this ambitious idea that we had to go medieval and it was not a common theme or concept in the Philippines because it was tough to pull off." a new rebirth for a group that's never content with past achievements and will continue to set its sights higher and further Key Glock On Channeling 2Pac With 'Glockaveli' & How The New Album Marks A "Rebranding" 6 Tips For Financial Literacy In Music From The Black Women's Brilliance Brunch Eric Church Reveals His 6 Most Important Songs Isaiah Falls Brings Southern Swagger To R&B With His Debut Album ‘LVRS Paradise’ The 22-year-old singer/songwriter unpacks her debut album which is filled with unfiltered observations about moving to Los Angeles and finding herself along the way In the music video for "i’ll be happy when," Lyn Lapid performs with her band to a largely disinterested audience at a house party As she reflects on her life in Los Angeles and the feeling of being invisible Lapid begins repeating the line: "Will I be a buzzkill forever?" The video is a case of art imitating life for the 22-year-old Filipino American singer/songwriter and morphing myself into a version that could be liked by everybody [in person and] online," Lapid tells GRAMMY.com "I never felt so miserable because I wasn’t being true to myself I was doing things I don’t even like to do for the sake of not being alone." "I’m so grateful for writing Buzzkill because that was my thought process of navigating that part of my life where I’m trying to figure out what I truly value and need to let go of." Written over a year and a half and imbued with a soft and soulful tone over a bed of R&B Buzzkill is some of Lapid's most vulnerable work While her previous EPs did touch on growing up feeling like an outsider and situationships she says Buzzkill focused on coming of age as an adult Her song "Cruise Control" was used in the Disney/Pixar film Inside Out 2 "Producer Man" was about a sketchy music producer who wanted Lapid to change everything about herself to cater to the music industry Lapid did what she knew best: wrote a song about it to remind herself never to give into the temptation of fame and success even after signing with Republic Records (now Mercury Records) and releasing five EPs "My definition of success is connecting with people who feel alone and making them feel seen," she says GRAMMY.com spoke to Lyn Lapid about her Buzzkill and upcoming world tour The singer details how her EPs influenced the sound of her debut album and what she’s looking forward to in the years ahead This interview has been edited for brevity How do you feel about your debut album's upcoming release and world tour I’m so honest in this album about personal things in my life [and] putting it out into the world is going to be very vulnerable I have no idea how my fans are going to react I wasn’t focused on [creating] a sound that people wanted to hear [I was] making a sound that was true to my artist project — and to me Tell me the significance of your album and tour title; what is your definition of a buzzkill "Buzzkill" was such a keyword that I always came back to while writing the album I wrote the album about my first year living in a new city Everybody talks about "coming of age" being in your teens…but nobody talks about "coming of age" in your 20s and making friends as adults I felt like everything I knew initially was wrong about how to make friends and [the culture] between the East Coast and the West Coast I’m the type of person to keep my circle small and I can’t fake a conversation or an interaction It’s very different over here with the people; everywhere I went I felt like a buzzkill because I wouldn’t click with the people I was meeting So "buzzkill" was just that word I kept [returning] to because I was trying to find my way while living in L.A The moral of Buzzkill is that you only feel like a buzzkill with the wrong people and making new friends: I needed to let go of my need to be liked or want[ing] to be [everyone’s] friend and just allow myself to find the people who don’t make me feel like a buzzkill tells a story about relationships and the perception of love How have these EPs prepared you for this album I was finding my sound and style lyrically I was very experimental with where I wanted to take my sound and trying to figure everything out To love in the 21st century is when I honed in on one certain sound They’re very cohesive with what they’re about I truly felt this is the north star where I wanted to be sonically I was finally able to hone in on that sound Jumping off the title of "i’ll be happy when," when do you Buzzkill was that self-discovery journey to find true contentment with myself The album starts where I’m unsure of where I belong I’m trying to figure out who I am and my values I’ve realized that I need to let go of the need to be liked by everybody and wanting to fit in every room with every person I meet It’s letting go of that control and allowing myself to let go and find the people that truly matter in my life That’s my definition of true happiness in my personal life I have so many bad habits with numbers and falling into the rabbit hole of toxic ways to use success and money I view success and true happiness as making music that I resonate with and is authentic to me and my artist project It’s seeing the true fans that resonate with that and the music What is your favorite track or lyric from Buzzkill It switches all the time based on how I’m feeling But the one [that I really got] to be vulnerable [on] was "floater friend." Sad songs are written all the time but this one [was] real feelings that I’m writing about real people [and] the people in my life who care about me will hear this for the first time so it will be interesting to see [their reactions] This song is [my most] vulnerable on this project You started in this industry at 17 and are now 22 What have you learned throughout this process With my songwriting and songs over the years you can hear the progression of finding the sound I love making It’s just the process of allowing time to hone in on my craft and run new sounds that I love running into new artists that I vibe with sonically and lyrically You’ve previously collaborated with artists such as mxmtoon Are there any others you’d be interested in collaborating with One artist I felt was my north star sonically and lyrically when I was making [Buzzkill] is Olivia Dean sonically — and the pure joy she puts out when performing and putting out music That’s definitely the vibe I wanted with this project and a collab with her would be a dream of mine This generation of young adults prefers short-form content like TikTok How do you keep up with the ever-changing internet trends and do you feel that artists need to do it to keep up I’m still trying to figure out my algorithm and the right way to promote my music to reach new fanbases and audiences I had no idea what I was doing with social media when I started; even now The algorithm and social media are changing so much every day It’s really a guessing game on what does well online and what niche I should craft How have the internet and social media changed your life and perspective of the music industry Social media essentially started my career It was easy for me to sink into unhealthy and toxic ways to view social media…and be caught up in the number of likes and views this sound [or lyric] does well online or this kind of content or sounds that weren’t authentic to me I felt like I had to push myself for the sake of views or likes I’m still trying to figure out my relationship with social media and how that influences my music and songwriting How do you deal with content creation burnout or even musical burnout There was a moment near the end of making Buzzkill where I was in sessions every single day; different sessions I’m the type to keep going and working to push myself I was so socially and creatively burnt out by all the different ways I could write about my experiences in real time I [tell] my team and everyone close to me that this is where my head is and I need to step back for the longevity of my career Do you feel you grew up fast and never enjoyed the process of your young adult life I compare my life heavily to the friends I grew up with They followed the traditional path of attending a four-year college I felt like an outsider going into such an intense career at a young age The ways I would make friends would be very different from [meeting friends in college] Being thrown into the industry at such a young age was overwhelming I wouldn’t say I lost the chance to experience making friends and finding my way in growing up while in the industry But it’s very different from what I was expecting in my 20s The 16-year-old me would look at me now with her jaw on the floor [amazed] that this is my life What do you hope to achieve in the next five years I just want to be able to continue to make music that resonates with people and find those people who feel seen in this situation — whether it be happy or sad I definitely want to level up as an artist and find those people on a bigger scale as much as any artist does tell myself that I am still authentic with my music I want to still be authentic with myself and be surrounded by the people who value that I am excited for the fans to see the new set I played the same set; slightly different songs every time as time progressed But this is the set where everything is new I’m not abandoning all my old music and songs in my catalog There are many songs that I wrote for this album that didn’t make the cut but I knew I didn’t want to completely abandon them I definitely have plans to incorporate them into the set somehow maybe performing them at the small VIP section before the concert or having a moment in the set where I sing it live anyway 2025 GRAMMYs nominee Kalani Pe’a reflects on the tragedy of the L.A wildfires and his own experience using art as action following the devastating 2023 Maui fires sharing some of his favorite uplifting music from the Hawaiian islands The 2025 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 67th GRAMMY Awards, will air live on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday, Feb. 2. Watch highlights from the 2025 GRAMMYs on live.GRAMMY.com The 2025 GRAMMYs telecast will be reimagined to raise funds to support wildfire relief efforts and aid music professionals impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles. Donate to the Recording Academy's and MusiCares' Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort To Support Music Professionals Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted before the onset of the wildfires in Los Angeles The artist has since addressed the situation Hilo, Hawaii, native Kalani Pe’a is an advocate for his homeland and heritage The GRAMMY-winning artist views music not just as a joy or a career path and the importance of music as a tool for healing was front and center following the devastating wildfires that swept the island of Maui in August 2023 feel and hear the stories unfold about the wildfires in L.A triggers many of us residents here on Maui," Pe'a tells GRAMMY.com reflecting on the shared tragedy of losing homes "We can only do so much as musicians and Hawaiian cultural practitioners of our community but we all had kuleana (responsibility) to assist each other as civic and civil leaders and as first responders."  Immediately after the Maui fires, Pe'a, his husband, and team created a benefit concert for affected families and friends, raising $150,000. Working with local non-profit ʻĀina Momona, Pe'a and his team disbursed funds to families in need and hosted a live streamed event, Wiwoʻole Benefit Concert "Wiwoʻole means courageous or bravery as Maui came together as a strong community to support each other during these trials and tribulations," Pe'a notes "We want to express our love and empathy to my friends and families who lost everything in the L.A wildfires and demonstrate the significance of being wiwoʻole during this time," the GRAMMY-winning artist continues "We hope this year's GRAMMY Awards ceremonies and festivities pivot to ensure that we focus on giving back and supporting our California residents The meaning of Kuini, which translates to queen, runs deep for Pe’a. In his words, the album honors the many women, matriarchs, and goddesses who have shaped his Hawaiian identity. The title track was written for his childhood friend Kumuhula Leialoha Kaʻula, and also honors the people of Niʻihau for lei-making traditions "This album is a compilation of original music and some favorite covers of mine to honor the people who are definitely queens in my life," Pe’a shares with GRAMMY.com Read more: 2025 GRAMMYs: See The OFFICIAL Full Nominations List engaging with music helped Pe’a through a speech impediment Pe’a went on to perform in various choirs and competitions as a child now as the first Hawaiian artist to win a GRAMMY Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album it’s evident that Pe’a’s musical storytelling intersects with his status as a proud Hawaiian language practitioner of over 35 years While Pe’a sings in the traditional Hawaiian language on Kuini and his other albums he identifies as a contemporary soul artist emphasizing his role as a modern composer and advocate He often sings to audiences who do not know Hawaiian fluently he takes the time to share context about his music and the islands before performing Pe’a views Hawaii as a "little dot" on the world map his poignant music has helped propel Hawaiian music to more global audiences Watch: Positive Vibes Only: Kalani Pe'a Whisks Us Away To Hawaii With A Feel-Good Performance Of "E Nā Kini" Kalani Pe’a shared with GRAMMY.com a specially curated list honoring Hawaiian musical legends and loved ones Read on to learn about 10 of the artist’s favorite songs and albums from the islands Loyal Garner passed away 23 years ago She has an album called The Best of Loyal and I sing her song "Ha’a Hula," which talks about perpetuation of hula and the art of hula; I did the cover on my third GRAMMY-winning album in my version while honoring Loyal Garner but I know she's here spiritually with me because I love to wear sparkly bedazzled shoes and outfits I love Uncle Willie K Pull up his version of "O Holy Night" — this is the reason why I sing "O Holy Night," we're tenors Uncle Willie Kay was my mentor and advisor He passed away suddenly years ago from cancer and I honor his legacy by singing his song "Katchi Katchi Music Makawao." It's an upbeat song to talk about my favorite town He's really uncle status; an amazing Hawaii entertainer. He's had huge concerts on Maui where he was definitely close with Steven Tyler, Alice Cooper and I was there to witness this in person…  Uncle Willie K, to me, sets out that caliber with the one and only Elton John Uncle Willie K can play any instrument and sing anything He's one of my most favorite Hawaiian male vocalists ever The iconic Lim family of Kohala Hawaii — I love their song "Pua 'Ōlena." "Pua 'Ōlena" is a flower It talks about a person and comparing their beauty to the flower one of my favorite oldie but goodies songs from their album Launaʻole which is also called Launaʻole: Unequalled Kimié Miner is my husband's childhood friend She's a GRAMMY-nominated producer… and this song It talks about strengthening yourself like a bamboo It's [about] identifying love [and] loving yourself first really a source of holding water and through life So that's the hidden message in this song "Bamboo" really is a self-loving song; you need to love yourself before you love others you need to listen to "Bamboo" for my girlfriend She's an amazing female vocalist of Hawaii I have another iconic singer, Amy Hānaial'i who's a six-time GRAMMY nominee and a dear friend of mine She's performed on a few of my GRAMMY-winning albums She is an amazing singer songwriter from Hawaii I love her version of "Ave Maria" from her Christmas album and I play it constantly during Christmas.** Her album Noelani — stunning — is GRAMMY-nominated. Natalie [Ai Kamauu] is six-time Hawaii Female Vocalist of the Year at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and I love her song "No Waimea Ke Aloha." She currently lives in Waimea on the big island where I was born and raised in Hilo My great great great grandparents come from Maui and she sings about one of my favorite towns It’s like a love song [that] talks about the misty rain of Waimea come on when you're swimming in warm water I love Dennis Kamakahi He passed away years ago; he was an artist that was definitely recognizable and respected but his style was unique and his songwriting was very modern like how I sing my Hawaiian music with some of the faster songs "E Nā Kini" [is a song] that he co-composed with another composer "E Nā Kini" is a song I redid on my first GRAMMY-winning album to honor Dennis Kamakahi So these are some of the cover songs I did; most of my albums have our original songs composed by me or others In "E Nā Kini," he talks about unifying our people and bringing peace and unity to the people of Hawaii but the lyrics were written by someone else it was to bring peace and unity for the people of Hawaii when we faced this pandemic called Hansen's Disease Our people were sequestered from their families and were forced to live on this island called Kolomakoi really affected a lot of our people in our community Then we have Ho’okena of Ho’okena 3.0 — they're dear friends of mine and I love their version of "Keōkea Pāka," [which] talks about a park A lot of our songs talk about places and people we love and we don't know why they compose or sing about these places I can talk about a flower or a park or this type of rainfall that hits me or this gust of wind that makes me feel so tickled inside But we don't know what it's all about until you really truly get the answer from the composer/singer There's hidden messaging and poetry behind these songs So "Keōkea Pāka" talks about this park I don't know what people do in this park All I know is that it's a fun song to dance to We have "Ho'onanea" from Lena Machado one of the four covers out of the seven originals This is a song called "Ho'onanea" and I do it in falsetto going from one range to a higher mixed range — head voice range — where love is identified and demonstrated and applied in that type of arrangement [for example,] if I'm talking about [a love song about] two birds chirping translates]: "Let's chirp like the birds let's make love like the birds soaring in the wind." Isn't that just so beautiful to hear the way that falsetto carries is like the way the birds chirp and soar in the wind So this is the beauty about this songwriter Lena Machado She wrote it in the 1930s and re-recorded it in the '70s So we don't know if it's the same lover it's a love song and I love it so much The last song is from my dear friend. We tour a lot in Japan. Japan treats me like Michael Jackson Weldon Kekauoha is a dear friend of mine and the way he sings this song he's a God-fearing man and I just love his energy "Thank You Lord" from his album Ka Lehua 'Ula just hits the spot It's like the perfect last song for any concert or anything When you're feeling down and you just need to meditate and pray this song "Thank You Lord" is my go-to song every time I look up to him and he's definitely an amazing singer/songwriter Kalani Pe'a Honors Hawaii With 2025 GRAMMY Win GRAMMY Viewers Contributed $10 Million To L.A Here Are All The Ways The Recording Academy Impacted The Music Community In 2024: GRAMMY Impact Report On 'Tsunami Sea,' Spiritbox's Courtney LaPlante Contemplates Adversity RECORDING ACADEMY MEMBERSHIP ADVOCACY MUSICARES LATIN GRAMMYS GRAMMY MUSEUM Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy and its Affiliates Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy and its Affiliates lies with the story's original source or writer Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy and its Affiliates On May 4, 2025, the University of Michigan and the University of Florida announced a major leadership transition: Santa J. Ono, Ph.D., president of the University of Michigan since October 2022, has been unanimously recommended by the University of Florida's Presidential Search Committee as the sole finalist to become UF's 14th president marks the end of Ono's tenure at Michigan and the beginning of a new chapter for both prestigious institutions Ono expressed gratitude for his time at Michigan "Serving as your president over these past three academic years has been a distinct honor and alumni..." He highlighted Michigan's momentum and expressed confidence in its future "I have every confidence that our exceptional leadership team ensuring that Michigan's extraordinary momentum continues to serve the people of Michigan and the world." The University of Florida's announcement praised Ono's track record and qualifications stating "proven record of academic excellence innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice." Interim UF President Kent Fuchs added "If I could select a dream candidate for the University's next president it would be Santa Ono," citing his approachable leadership style and ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders though these were unrelated to Ono's departure Ono is expected to bring his expertise in academic leadership and public health drawing on his experience at institutions like the University of British Columbia and the University of Cincinnati The UF announcement noted that Ono's appointment aligns with the university's goal of maintaining its trajectory as a leading public research institution The UF Board of Trustees is set to finalize the decision with Ono expected to assume the presidency this summer The University of Michigan has not yet announced plans for an interim president or the search for Ono's successor The university's Board of Regents is expected to provide updates in the coming weeks as it prepares for this transition This move represents a pivotal moment for both universities Michigan faces the challenge of sustaining its momentum under new leadership while Florida anticipates a transformative era under Ono's guidance As Ono prepares to leave Ann Arbor for Gainesville the higher education community will be watching closely to see how these institutions navigate their next chapters Copyright © 2025 UNIVERSITY HERALD. All rights reserved. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy in the past few years as the Wolverines have reeled off successful seasons in football The program was also supported by University of Michigan president Santa Ono who became a well-known public figure in Ann Arbor and on social media in recent years Ono dropped the bombshell news that he had chosen to leave Ann Arbor for the University of Florida to assume the same position in Gainesville "I have informed the Chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents of my decision," Ono wrote in a message shared Sunday.  Santa Ono (left) embraces Michigan basketball coach Dusty May.  © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images his wife) and I have formed with this extraordinary community."  Michigan insider and best selling author John U Bacon shared his thoughts on what may have led to Ono's decision on X after the news was announced.  "This is a surprise - but maybe it shouldn't be," Bacon wrote on X.  "I can't recall any UM president starting higher I'm not hearing from anyone who regrets his leaving - and his resignation letter seems rather insincere "He leaves as a footnote," Bacon wrote.  He also remarked on Ono's surprisingly short tenure at the university.  Bacon added that there was a feeling of overwhelm surrounding Ono as he went about his day-to-day duties "Ono quickly seemed overwhelmed by the scale of the job and an unusually tumultuous era," he wrote.  Ono might have been at the University of Michigan for a good time It remains to be seen whether or not Ono's tenure leading U-M will continue but the University of Florida is reportedly making a move to lure away President Ono from his post in Ann Arbor Ono became the University of Michigan president not even three years ago As a president who also embraced sports (unlike his predecessor) he helped steer the university in the aftermath of COVID-19 But, he's received a unanimous recommendation from Florida that he take over the same role in Gainesville Per a Florida release: The University of Florida Presidential Search Committee has unanimously and enthusiastically recommended Santa J to be considered by its Board of Trustees as the sole finalist to become the University’s 14th president Ono currently serves as president of the University of Michigan and brings a distinguished record of leadership in academia and public health across the United States and Canada Ono came aboard after overseeing the University of Cincinnati and then the University of British Columbia It's unclear at this juncture as to whether or not Michigan will attempt to keep him on campus or if Ono is on the way out Ono was briefly preceded by Mary Sue Coleman who came aboard in an interim status following Schlissel's departure University of Michigan President Santa Ono may be leaving Ann Arbor to become president of the University of Florida Ono sent an email to all UM staff last night announcing that he is the sole finalist for the top job in Gainesville innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice,” said Rahul Patel chair of the school's presidential search committee Ono has been president at Michigan for three years and would be become the University of Florida's 14th president Ono says Florida's Board of Governors must still approve his appointment He is scheduled to visit the Gainesville campus on Tuesday for a series of public forums with students Ono says he expects to assume his new role later this summer He succeeded former U-of-M President Mark Schlissel in October 2022 The U of M Board of Regents extended Ono’s contract through 20-32 last fall Ono said serving as U of M’s president has been “a distinct honor.” “Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one at the University of Florida,” Ono said and a shared vision across its entire community." He highlighted several accomplishments during his tenure at U of M including a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure campaign and expansion of artificial intelligence research and other academic investments But his presidency has not been without controversy Group’s protesting the war in Gaza have criticized Ono’s refusal to support calls to divest university investments in Israel and criticized the U of M’s crackdown on those protests The University of Michigan holds Michigan Public's broadcast license. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. TALLAHASSEE --- Santa Ono, who has led the University of Michigan since 2022, is the sole finalist to become president of the University of Florida, UF announced Sunday. A presidential-search committee recommended that the UF Board of Trustees approve Ono after a search that began last year following the abrupt resignation of former President Ben Sasse. Kent Fuchs, a former UF president, has served as interim president. Ono, who has a doctorate in experimental medicine from McGill University in Canada, served as president of the University of Cincinnati and the University of British Columbia before becoming president of the University of Michigan. Ono is scheduled to visit the Gainesville campus Tuesday for forums with students, faculty members and administrators, according to Sunday’s announcement. If approved by the UF Board of Trustees, his selection would need confirmation from the state university system’s Board of Governors. Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, served less than two years as president before announcing last summer he would step down because of his wife’s health. Subsequent reporting by the Independent Florida Alligator student newspaper raised questions about issues such as spending on travel and high-level employees who did not live in Florida. Sasse denied inappropriate spending. Sunday’s announcement came after the Florida House this spring unsuccessfully sought to revamp laws about college and university presidential searches, including trying to repeal a 2022 law that provided exemptions to public-records and public-meetings laws for information about most candidates for presidencies. Under the law, only information about finalists for the positions is released. The House proposal died Friday when the Senate did not take it up before lawmakers finished most business of this year’s legislative session. The UF announcement Sunday said the search committee “was responsible for designing the search criteria, identifying and vetting a broad pool of qualified candidates, and recommending finalists to the Board of Trustees.” It did not provide information about other candidates. Members of the search committee were announced in October. The university system has seen heavy turnover in presidents in recent years. Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner was selected in February to become president of Florida Atlantic University, while former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez was named interim president of Florida International University. Last month, Florida A&M University announced the names of four finalists to become its president. In addition, University of South Florida President Rhea Law has announced she is stepping down. Fans of the Michigan Wolverines celebrated the hire of Santa Ono as University of Michigan President However, less than three years later, Ono has agreed to accept the same position at the University of Florida. The news doesn't come as a huge shock, according to Michigan insider John U. Bacon, who posted on X that "This is a surprise - but maybe it shouldn't be I can't recall any UM president starting higher I'm not hearing from anyone who regrets his leaving - and his resignation letter seems rather insincere rival fans are trying to make Ono's departure about the Michigan football team They claim that this is a sign that the "hammer" is dropping the two probably aren't related in any way Warde Manuel just got a contract extension which wouldn't have happened if his football program was about to get the "hammer" or the death penalty or whatever Ohio State fans dream of because they truly believe it will allow them to wipe away the pain of four straight losses to the Michigan Wolverines but I wouldn't overreact as a Michigan fan You want a President who is a strong supporter of athletics and the Michigan Wolverines had that in Santa Ono A lot can change with a change in leadership After recording its largest win ever over the Buckeyes on the baseball diamond the Michigan Wolverines completed a weekend sweep of Ohio State thanks to Sunday victories by the scores of 11-4 and 13-3 Benny Casilla and Brayden Jefferies did work at the plate with three hits and three runs Keegan O'Hearn hit his first home run for the Wolverines and Dylan Vigue got the win after five scoreless innnings to start and five strikeouts O'Hearn went yard again in the second game against Ohio State while Tate Cary got the win on the mound after striking out eight Buckeyes Michigan is now 30-17 and 14-10 in the Big Ten The Wolverines will play Central Michigan at home on Tuesday before a critical three-game road series at Nebraska The Michigan Wolverines closed out the softball regular season with two straight wins finishing 11-11 in the Big Ten (34-19 overall) 8 seed for the Big Ten softball tournament They will open the tournament (single elimination) against Wisconsin on Wednesday at 4:30 PM EST Michigan will need to win the tournament in order to qualify for the NCAA tournament © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"6f","src":"6g","url":"6h"},{"type":"6e","value":"6i"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"6l","url":"6m"},{"type":"6k","value":"6n"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands However, less than three years later, Ono has agreed to accept the same position at the University of Florida. The news doesn't come as a huge shock, according to Michigan insider John U. Bacon, who posted on X that You want a President who is a strong supporter of athletics After recording its largest win ever over the Buckeyes on the baseball diamond a key supporter of Michigan Wolverines athletics will leave for the same job at another school Ono has been unanimously recommended by the University of Florida Presidential Search Committee as the sole finalist to become UF's 14th president Ono would replace former president Ben Sasse who resigned from the role in July of 2024 The role has since been held by former president Kent Fuchs on an interim basis “Few moments in higher education are as exciting as this one at the University of Florida,” Dr. Ono said in a press release Ono has been president at the University of Michigan since October of 2022 and was previously president at the University of British Columbia (2016-22) and the University of Cincinatti (2012-16) who is best-known for his research with pioneering efforts on the immune system and eye disease is "widely recognized for his ability to cultivate philanthropic partnerships and lead ambitious fundraising efforts," according to the release and inspire our community to reach even greater heights," said Rahul Patel Ono brings strong experience after tremendous investment in his time with the Wolverines which won a national championship and two Big 10 titles in football with Ono in office He was also known for crowd surfing at sporting events during his time at Cincinatti and British Columbia and was regularly seen as an active supporter at sporting events at Michigan Ono was also president at Michigan for an extensive locker room renovation as a result of a $7 million donation and had seen a record-breaking $5.3 billion renovation to Michigan Stadium be announced earlier this month "President Ono's departure marks a significant moment for Michigan Athletics," Rivals' Trevor McCue wrote he was a vocal supporter of the Wolverines celebrating major milestones such as the football team's national championship and the hiring of men's basketball head coach Dusty May His active engagement with the athletic department and presence at sporting events underscored his commitment to the university's sports programs." Would be a tough loss for Michigan athletics, as Ono is a huge sports fan and has been very supportive of the program during his tenure. Definitely would be a plus for Florida. https://t.co/yWOOnz5Ppy Ono will be on campus Tuesday for a series of public forums with UF faculty, staff and students with selection by the university Board of Trustees and confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors to come at a later date. Ono is expected to receive both and take office sometime this summer. fans of the Michigan Wolverines have learned how important the president of a university can be when it comes to the success of athletic departments That's as true at Michigan as it is anywhere else The Michigan football program has that right now. It also had that, for the most part, under Jim Harbaugh. There were rumors of a cold relationship between Harbaugh and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel yet Santa Ono played a key role in keeping Harbaugh as Michigan football head coach at least long enough for the Michigan Wolverines to win a national title Having a supportive president was a change for the Michigan football program That's why a report of Santa Ono being a top candidate to become the next president for the University of Florida is a little worrying The University of Florida appears close to finding its new president The chair of the UF Presidential Search Advisory Committee has unanimously recommended Dr the current president of the University of Michigan as the sole finalist for consideration to become… Graham Hall of 247 Sports posted on X "The chair of the UF Presidential Search Advisory Committee has unanimously recommended Dr as the sole finalist for consideration to become the 14th president at UF." ESPN's Adam Rittenberg also posted about what a huge loss it would for the Michigan Wolverines "Would be a tough loss for Michigan athletics, as Ono is a huge sports fan and has been very supportive of the program during his tenure. Definitely would be a plus for Florida," The ESPN college football reporter posted on X. It also wouldn't be the best timing with the NCAA investigation moving closer to an end ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"63","src":"64","url":"65"},{"type":"62","value":"66"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"69","url":"6a"},{"type":"68","value":"6b"},"All Rights Reserved That's as true at Michigan as it is anywhere else The Michigan football program has that right now. It also had that, for the most part, under Jim Harbaugh. There were rumors of a cold relationship between Harbaugh and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel Graham Hall of 247 Sports posted on X "Would be a tough loss for Michigan athletics, as Ono is a huge sports fan and has been very supportive of the program during his tenure. Definitely would be a plus for Florida," The ESPN college football reporter posted on X. It also wouldn't be the best timing with the NCAA investigation moving closer to an end who has been a key player in Michigan athletics A University of Florida student walks through campus in 2023 in Gainesville The University of Florida plans to hire school president Santa Ono away from the University of Michigan Ono was recommended as the search committee’s only finalist to be considered by the board of trustees on Sunday night The school’s board selects the president and the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors Ono is expected to be on campus Tuesday for a series of opportunities to connect with students who became the school’s interim president after former U.S GAINESVILLE — The University of Florida plans to hire school president Santa Ono away from the University of Michigan Ono was recommended as the search committee's only finalist to be considered by the board of trustees on Sunday night Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content rewritten or redistributed without permission Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account University of Michigan President Santa Ono unexpectedly resigned to become University of Florida's president sparking mixed reactions and leaving Michigan to search for a new leader The higher education world was recently rocked by the unexpected news of University of Michigan President Santa Ono's resignation After a relatively short but impactful tenure in Ann Arbor Ono is heading south to become the next president of the University of Florida This move has sparked a flurry of reactions leaving Michigan searching for a new leader while Florida celebrates its exciting new appointment Ono's departure from Michigan after less than a year surprised many His engaging personality and progressive views had resonated well with the Michigan community While he expressed gratitude for his time at Michigan and the strong bonds he formed the opportunity at Florida proved too enticing Ono's appointment is a significant coup The search committee unanimously selected him highlighting his impressive track record of academic excellence Interim President Kent Fuchs even called Ono his "dream candidate," emphasizing his leadership style and ability to work with diverse stakeholders Ono's proactive approach is evident in his planned campus visits to meet with students and administrators at the University of Florida He expressed excitement about Florida's potential to become a leading global institution The announcement generated a wave of online reactions speculating about the reasons behind such a swift change while others celebrated Ono's appointment to Florida like "Santa Ono's coming to town," even circulated Critics pointed to ongoing litigation against the University of Michigan during his tenure including a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination of faculty members involved in pro-Palestinian protests and previous lawsuits related to sexual misconduct allegations These legal issues cast a shadow on the otherwise celebratory announcement The University of Michigan is now in the midst of a presidential search a process that will undoubtedly attract significant attention Ono faces the challenge of navigating Florida's complex higher education landscape and addressing the lingering effects of Sasse's controversial tenure His success in Florida will hinge on his ability to build consensus and effectively tackle the institution's challenges Santa Ono's move from Michigan to Florida represents a significant development in higher education While Florida gains a highly regarded leader Michigan faces uncertainty as it searches for its next president The coming months will be critical for both universities as they adjust to this unexpected shift and chart their futures President Ono unexpectedly resigned from the University of Michigan to accept the presidency of the University of Florida The reasons behind his decision haven't been fully disclosed Santa Ono is a prominent figure in higher education he served as the President of the University of Michigan and now he's the President of the University of Florida The University of Michigan is now conducting a presidential search to find a successor to President Ono This involves a significant process of identifying and vetting candidates The University of Florida has expressed excitement about President Ono's arrival and the leadership he brings to the institution They anticipate a period of positive change under his presidency This high-profile move highlights the dynamic nature of leadership in higher education It raises questions about institutional priorities and the factors influencing presidential decisions The timeline for the University of Michigan's presidential search is uncertain but such processes typically take several months The impact on student life is likely to be significant This change in leadership could create uncertainty while the university searches for a new president While he won't directly manage the athletic programs his presence as President will indirectly influence their funding and overall university atmosphere in both Michigan and Florida The higher education community has responded with a mixture of surprise and discussion regarding the implications of such a high-profile presidential move Updates on the University of Michigan's search for a new president should be available on the university's official website and possibly through other news outlets covering higher education All trademarks are the property of their respective owners All rights reserved @ 2025 Nishtya Infotech (India) Ltd Ono came to Michigan in October of 2022 and replaced Mark Schlissel who was the President from 2014-22 Ono was a big supporter of Michigan Athletics and had full backing of Jim Harbaugh during his time at Michigan Ono sent an email sharing his decision to take the Florida job "Dear University of Michigan Community,I write today to share that I have been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida Serving as the president over these past three academic years has been a distinct honor I will miss the extraordinary intellectual vitality that fills out classrooms and laboratories and the roar of fans cheering on the Wolverines -- or singing 'Mr Brightside' together in joyful unity I will miss working alongside the UM Health Board to advance our world-class health system.And most of all Wendy has loved engaging with every part of this special community." This will be the shortest tenure from a Michigan president - Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI - ESPN analyst details two positions Michigan football needs to upgrade to help Bryce Underwood in Year 1 Michigan football misses out on top RB prospect to rival school NFL Exec. gives brutal assessment of Minnesota Vikings' QB J.J. McCarthy For additional coverage of University of Michigan athletics: Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates University of Michigan President Santa Ono is set to become the University of Florida's next president marking a significant leadership transition  Santa J. Ono, the current president of the University of Michigan, has been named the sole finalist for the presidency at the University of Florida. His appointment is pending approval by Florida’s Board of Governors. AP News+6record.umich.edu+6Maize n Brew+6 In a message to the University of Michigan community, Ono expressed gratitude for his time in Ann Arbor, stating, "Serving as your president over these past three academic years has been a distinct honor." president.umich.edu+3record.umich.edu+3The Michigan Daily+3 During his presidency at the University of Michigan, Ono spearheaded several initiatives:The Michigan Daily Vision 2034 and Campus Plan 2050: Strategic plans involving over 25,000 stakeholders to shape the university's future. record.umich.edu University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI): Established in Detroit to foster entrepreneurship and community engagement. president.umich.edu Artificial Intelligence Research Ecosystem: Launched a $1.2 billion initiative in collaboration with OpenAI and Los Alamos National Laboratory. record.umich.edu+1president.umich.edu+1 Expansion of the Go Blue Guarantee: Extended free tuition to families earning up to $125,000 annually. Diverse: Issues In Higher Education Ono also addressed national security concerns by ending a partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University after incidents involving Chinese students near a U.S. military site. AP News The University of Michigan's Board of Regents is working to ensure a smooth leadership transition Ono has agreed to remain in his role until an interim president is appointed Creating a 10-year campus development plan Promoting artificial intelligence research Santa J. Ono is a Canadian-American immunologist and academic administrator. He has served as president of the University of Cincinnati, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Michigan. https://www.wilx.com+4Wikipedia+4record.umich.edu+4 Ono has been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency at the University of Florida and is expected to assume the role later this summer, pending approval by Florida’s Board of Governors. The Michigan Daily+8Maize n Brew+8president.umich.edu+8 Ono launched strategic initiatives like Vision 2034 and Campus Plan 2050 established the University of Michigan Center for Innovation and expanded the Go Blue Guarantee for tuition assistance Santa Ono became president of the University of Michigan in 2022 so he served in the role for about three years before deciding to move to Florida University of Michigan President Santa Ono prepares to toss t-shirts into the crowd during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The University of Florida plans to hire school president Santa Ono away from the University of Michigan The school's board selects the president and the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors who became the school's interim president last summer after ex-U.S to become the university’s president in 2023 Sasse announced in July he was leaving the job to focus on his family after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy Soon thereafter, there were reports that Sasse gave six former staffers and two former Republican officials jobs with salaries that outstripped comparable positions and spent over $1.3 million on private catering for lavish dinners football tailgates and extravagant social functions in his first year on the job The amount was about double the spending of his predecessor who was brought back to head the university on a temporary basis “If I could select a dream candidate for the University’s next president ”His demonstrated record of success at the best universities staff and other stakeholders everywhere he has been." Nearly three years ago, the University of Michigan hired Ono after he led the University of British Columbia He previously served as president of the University of Cincinnati and senior vice provost and deputy to the provost at Emory University in Georgia As U.S. colleges pull back on diversity, equity and inclusion practices as they respond to the Trump administration’s orders against diversity practices the University of Michigan was among the first schools to make major DEI rollbacks to avoid federal scrutiny Ono had said the school will find other ways to support students including an expansion of scholarships for low-income students The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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User Post Count: 38422 monthsPosts384Curious timing for a guy who just got a big raise https://x.com/uf/status/1919150216697000152?s=61 11 upvotes11Dislike PostMore OptionsDiscussionAll (170)Staff (0)pulling69Posted on User Post Count: 64952199 monthsPosts64952Bet 26 upvotes26Dislike PostMore OptionsCostaMesaSpartyPosted on User Post Count: 7135261 monthsPosts7135Leaving before all the schitt hits the fan 49 upvotes49Dislike PostMore OptionsAUAlum06Posted on User Post Count: 70041173 monthsPosts70041#BetLike Post7 upvotes7Dislike PostMore Options2BrokeElbosPosted on User Post Count: 38422 monthsPosts384The spin cycle will be entertaining 6 upvotes6Dislike PostMore OptionsDB86Posted on User Post Count: 2512173 monthsPosts2512Just a coincidence I am sure 8 upvotes8Dislike PostMore OptionsstinkytofuPosted on User Post Count: 46855173 monthsPosts46855Between the NCAA stuff and him immediately giving in to the current political climate.. 6 upvotes6Dislike PostMore Optionspulling69Posted on , , User Since 199 months ago, User Post Count: 64952199 monthsPosts64952CostaMesaSparty said... (original post) Leaving before all the schitt hits the fan 4 upvotes4Dislike PostMore OptionsScottieHazeltonPosted on User Post Count: 381332 monthsPosts3813 Like Post22 upvotes22Dislike PostMore OptionsVegas VicPosted on User Post Count: 18278173 monthsPosts18278How long before Wardo defects 1 upvotes1Dislike PostMore OptionsJohnny2x2xPosted on , , User Since 161 months ago, User Post Count: 127416161 monthsPosts127416Vegas Vic said... (original post) How long before Wardo defects That guy owns *ichigan since he buried the Anderson scandal for 2 years 3 upvotes3Dislike PostMore OptionsChipping_MillPosted on User Post Count: 1236 monthsPosts123Back Door Santa 2 upvotes2Dislike PostMore Optionsevergreen1Posted on User Post Count: 127290 monthsPosts1272“Every day If he thinks the board at Michigan is bad wait till he gets a hold of the legislature in the state of Florida Methinks desperate choices for desperate times 1 upvotes1Dislike PostMore OptionsBrodyBeach3Posted on User Post Count: 47517 monthsPosts475Warde cooled on him 4 upvotes4Dislike PostMore OptionsFrank DrebinPosted on User Post Count: 10355173 monthsPosts10355Failing upwards 3 upvotes3Dislike PostMore OptionsfaygoPosted on , , User Since 173 months ago, User Post Count: 10308173 monthsPosts10308stinkytofu said... (original post) Between the NCAA stuff and him immediately giving in to the current political climate.. NCAA is small potatoes compared to the mounting lawsuits because of crimes at the university under his watch This smells like a guy skipping town before the bill collector shows up 8 upvotes8Dislike PostMore OptionsCV BurritoPosted on User Post Count: 14205146 monthsPosts14205Would this guy get this job two months from now or whenever this NCAA decision hits Pisses me off that people can just skate away ahead of this thing like it doesn’t even exist 1 upvotes1Dislike PostMore Optionsevergreen1Posted on , , User Since 90 months ago, User Post Count: 127290 monthsPosts1272CV Burrito said... (original post) Would this guy get this job two months from now or whenever this NCAA decision hits Pisses me off that people can just skate away ahead of this.. Guess that’s what happens though when the NCAA and FBI take 2 fvcking years to complete their antiquated processes 2 upvotes2Dislike PostMore OptionsCV BurritoPosted on , , User Since 146 months ago, User Post Count: 14205146 monthsPosts14205faygo said... (original post) NCAA is small potatoes compared to the mounting lawsuits because of crimes at the university under his watch I can see being in a trustee meeting and raising my hand “ummm it hasn’t come up but isn’t UM about to be hit with serious NCAA penalties and be sued for $5 billion dollars 0 0Dislike PostMore OptionsUPLA07Posted on , , User Since 51 months ago, User Post Count: 19551 monthsPosts195Surprised he didn’t run back to Vancouver again. Bethttps://www.wlwt.com/article/judge-approves-request-to-depose-santa-ono-before-ray-tensing-s-murder-trial/3566907 0 0Dislike PostMore OptionsUranus69Posted on User Post Count: 28918 monthsPosts289He just wants to work for a university that legitimately won a national championship 13 upvotes13Dislike PostMore Optionsmateen skilesPosted on , , User Since 163 months ago, User Post Count: 21636163 monthsPosts21636Uranus69 said... (original post) He just wants to work for a university that legitimately won a national championship so you’re the one that stole this username 0 0Dislike PostMore OptionsUPLA07Posted on , , User Since 51 months ago, User Post Count: 19551 monthsPosts195faygo said... (original post) NCAA is small potatoes compared to the mounting lawsuits because of crimes at the university under his watch CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and 247Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event This site contains commercial content and 247Sports may be compensated for the links provided on this site GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida Presidential Search Committee has unanimously selected Santa J. Ono, Ph.D. as the sole finalist to be considered by the Board of Trustees for the position of president Dr. Santa J. Ono, currently president of the University of Michigan, has been unanimously recommended by UF’s Presidential Search Committee for consideration by the Board of Trustees as the sole finalist to become the university’s 14th president.https://t.co/9ELmaULVRg Currently serving as the president of the University of Michigan, Dr. Ono brings a distinguished background in academic leadership and public health from institutions across the United States and Canada, UF said in a news release. “On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I am thrilled to announce Dr. Santa Ono as our sole finalist for the next president of the University of Florida,” stated Rahul Patel, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. Patel highlighted the committee’s thorough search process, emphasizing the need for a leader who can harness UF’s impressive momentum and appreciate its status as the flagship university in one of the nation’s most vibrant states. “Dr. Ono’s exceptional track record in academic excellence, innovation, and collaborative leadership at top-tier institutions made him our unanimous choice,” Patel said. “We believe he is the ideal candidate to build on UF’s solid foundation and help us achieve our ambitious vision for the future.” Dr. Ono is a globally recognized researcher known for his work on the immune system and eye diseases. He earned his Ph.D. in experimental medicine from McGill University and his B.A. in biological sciences from the University of Chicago. His accolades include membership in the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and several other prestigious organizations. In addition to his academic credentials, Dr. Ono holds positions on the boards of the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Council on Competitiveness. He chairs the Council of Presidents of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the University of Michigan Health Board, and Fulbright Canada. His previous roles include president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia, president of the University of Cincinnati, and senior vice provost at Emory University. Dr. Ono is also celebrated for his ability to foster philanthropic partnerships and spearhead significant fundraising initiatives. Dr. Ono is set to visit the Gainesville campus on Tuesday, where he will hold public forums with students, faculty, and administrators. In accordance with Florida law, the Presidential Search Committee was tasked with establishing the search criteria, identifying and vetting a diverse pool of qualified candidates, and recommending finalists to the Board of Trustees. The University of Florida Board of Trustees is responsible for selecting the university president, whose appointment must then be confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Aydian joined News4JAX as a digital producer in September 2024. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, he is excited to provide coverage on a variety of topics like sports, politics, health, and breaking news to the Jacksonville area. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Dr. Santa J. Ono, currently president of the University of Michigan, has been unanimously recommended by UF’s Presidential Search Committee for consideration by the Board of Trustees as the sole finalist to become the university’s 14th president.https://t.co/9ELmaULVRg The University of Florida appears to have found its next president The school announced Sunday the “University of Florida Presidential Search Committee has unanimously and enthusiastically recommended Santa J to be considered by its Board of Trustees as the sole finalist to become the University’s 14th president.” Ono, the current president at the University of Michigan, later announced his plans to leave for the same role at Florida. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors. “I write today to share that I have been selected as the sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Florida, and once the appointment is approved by their Board of Governors, I expect to assume that role later this summer,” Ono wrote. “I have informed the Chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, Kathy White, of my decision. This decision was not made lightly, given the deep bond Wendy and I have formed with this extraordinary community. Rahul Patel, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee at UF, was enthusiastic about the prospect of bringing in Ono in a school release. Dr. Ono currently serves as president of the University of Michigan and brings a distinguished record of leadership in academia and public health across the United States and Canada.  Per the UF release, Ono is scheduled to visit the Gainesville campus on Tuesday for a series of public forums with students, faculty, and administrators. The flip Friday by 4-star linebacker Izayia Williams of Tavares (Fla.) from UF to Ole Miss was significant recruiting news. But how much did it truly... Welcome to the Gators Online Show! For episode 126, we discuss the NFL Draft, Florida's top 2026 prospects, Desmond Claude visiting and more UF... Florida Gators star volleyball player Kennedy Martin, an All-American and one of the top players in college, has entered the transfer portal.... GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Every week Gators Online hold weekly live chats for our members. On Tuesday night, we answered questions about Florida coach Todd... 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