Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Jul 29

U. of Florida is extending interim President Kent Fuchs’ contract through Sept. 1 as it continues to find a temporary successor after Santa J. Ono’s failed bid. A new search will launch early 2026. www.wuft.org/fresh-take-f...

UF keeps interim president for another month

President Kent Fuchs has agreed to a one-month contract extension ending Sept. 1.

www.wuft.org

1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Jul 24

can perhaps take it where we need to be in the current environment. And it wasn’t me.’”

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Jul 24

“After the May 8 meeting and seeing how higher education is changing nationally, she said, ‘I thought, I am not the person to lead that change. I’ve done what I can do, and I’m happy with what I’ve done, and I’m leaving it in good shape. It’s time to give it to someone else who…

1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Jul 24

“When asked why she resigned, Saunders said, ‘Well, I think any president, if they tell you the truth, walks into the job thinking, this is what I can get done. And I always said the day I cannot move us forward, I will be the first to know, and I will take action.’”

1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Jul 24

via Outzen: “Did Saunders feel like she was ambushed? She said, ‘Yes. And I thought, ‘What in the world is going on here?’ Because I was not prepared to answer questions about events that happened six years before. And had I been asked beforehand, I would have been ready.’”

1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Jul 24

At the May 8 meeting, Saunders was confronted with a drag show — titled “Drag Me to Hell — that occured on campus under her watch in 2019. She was also pressed about an $800k NSF grant that referenced social justice

1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Jul 24

Ex-U. of West Florida prez spoke with Pensacola blogger Rick Outzen about her tenure and decision to resign after eight years in office on the heels of a testy meeting with the school’s new board appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis inweekly.net/time-to-go/

Time to Go | Inweekly

inweekly.net

1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Jun 2

Is a career academic who not too long ago was championing “DEI 2.0” fit to lead Florida’s flagship university?

The Florida Board of Governors will decide tomorrow, when they vote on whether to confirm Santa J. Ono as U. of Florida’s next president. @miamiherald.com

Miami Herald @miamiherald.com · Jun 2

The furor over Ono’s candidacy is a striking example of how deeply Florida’s politics have seeped into the workings of its higher education landscape.

Santa Ono is coming to The Swamp. Can he survive the conservative heat?

The furor over Ono’s candidacy is a striking example of how deeply Florida’s politics have seeped into the workings of its higher education landscape.

bit.ly

1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 29

Here’s all the numbers and a link to the Ono’s contract: www.flbog.edu/wp-content/u...

1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 29

Ono’s appointment must still be ratified by the state university system’s Board of Governors on Tuesday. If approved, his contract says he’ll take office Wednesday.

1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 29

UF trustees unanimously approved Ono as president this week despite mounting right-wing backlash over his past support for DEI efforts. Since he was named as the sole finalist for the UF job, he has repeatedly denounced DEI.

1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 29

It’s also worth noting that one-fourth of Ono’s tentative UF pay comes from a dual-role as chair of UF Health, the university’s hospital system. Neither Fuchs nor Sasse had that appointment in their contracts.

1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 29

For context: In October, Ono agreed to a contract extension with @UMich that would have kept him in Ann Arbor until 2032 and raised his potential pay by 79%.

1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 29

In February, UF’s board approved an annual compensation package of up to $3 million annually for the incoming prez. That same month, both Ono and the chair of the presidential search committee have said he was initially approached about the role — though the exact sequence of events remains unclear.

1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 29

For comparison, former @UF Prez Ben Sasse’s five-year contract — inked in late 2022 — was worth up to $10m, or $3m a year. Interim prez Kent Fuchs’ agreement includes a base salary of $1m and a performance bonus of up to 15%. Unlike Sasse, Ono’s contract also includes tenure.

1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 29

NEW: NEW: U. of Florida is offering President-elect Santa Ono a five-year contract valued at up to $15m, equating to $3m annually. Ono’s current contract with U. of Michigan, worth up to $2.5m per year, is among the most lucrative for a public university president.

1 1 1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 25

Is U. of West Florida the next landing spot for one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ allies?

Sources tell the @miamiherald.com that Manny Diaz Jr., the governor’s education commissioner, will be tapped as interim president on Tuesday.
amp.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...

There’s a push to make Manny Diaz Jr. interim president of University of West Florida

Board of Trustees meets on Tuesday.

amp.miamiherald.com

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 22

Jeanette Nuñez took over Florida International University as interim president in February. Here’s the former lieutenant governor’s case for nixing “interim” from her title:

Miami Herald @miamiherald.com · May 22

She met with staff, students and the community to answer questions.

At FIU, Jeanette Nuñez makes her pitch for a permanent presidency

She met with staff, students and the community to answer questions.

bit.ly

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 8

The move comes as Ono faces scrutiny from Florida GOP lawmakers — including the Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds — for his past support for DEI efforts. In March, Ono shuttered DEI initiatives at UMich, where he's currently president. t.co/PBRjk5Wjnd

https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2025/05/07/trump-endorsed-candidate-in-florida-calls-out-uf-president-finalist/83496156007/

t.co

1

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 8

U. of Florida prez finalist Santa Ono's name was removed from a statement opposing political interference in higher ed, though captures show he was listed as a signatory as recently as Monday, a day after he was named UF's sole finalist. t.co/ilFgXVoY8v

https://www.aacu.org/newsroom/a-call-for-constructive-engagement

t.co

1 1 4

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · May 7

Gov. Ron DeSantis says he had no role in bringing the UMich prez to UF and gave his blessing to the selection process, adding that any incoming Florida university president expecting to push DEI efforts will “run into a brick wall.”

2

Garrett Shanley @garrettshanley.bsky.social · Apr 28

ICYMI: UF slammed the breaks on its near-finished search for a new liberal arts dean last week under pressure from the DeSantis administration, which had rasied concerns over finalists’ past remarks on DEI efforts. @miamiherald.com www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...

DeSantis halts UF’s search for liberal arts dean amid conservative backlash

The search was down to four candidates.

www.miamiherald.com

3 2

Reposted by Garrett Shanley

Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Apr 11

A college accreditor navigates the Trump era feat. a Dylan Thomas cameo (yes, really) @erickelderman.bsky.social

Accreditor Urges Academe to ‘Rage’ Against Challenges to Higher Ed. It’s Also Revising Its DEI Standards.

With President Trump expected to take aim at accreditation, one group pondered how to adapt at its annual meeting this week.

www.chronicle.com

2 3

Reposted by Garrett Shanley

Jack Stripling @jackstripling.bsky.social · Mar 25

Here's the podcast episode no one asked for, but everyone needs: The College Matters Higher Ed Controversy Draft w/ @brownepoints.bsky.social and @andyandy.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

1 3 6

Reposted by Garrett Shanley

Eric Kelderman @erickelderman.bsky.social · Mar 6

@jasperjsmith.bsky.social has been crushing it. Check out this MUST read:

www.chronicle.com/article/can-...

Can Ibram Kendi Find a New Home at Howard?

Christopher Rufo said the antiracism scholar would “no doubt find a receptive audience” at the HBCU. That hasn’t been the case so far.

www.chronicle.com

1 5 8