Gov. DeSantis sees UF president search as an opportunity to continue ‘strong path’

University of Florida President Ben Sasse delivered remarks during a May 8, 2024, press conference at the university amid pro-Palestine campus protests. (Screenshot from Florida Channel)

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Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a press conference Wednesday morning that he won’t get involved with the University of Florida’s quest for a new president, but he said he wants the next leader to continue on a ‘strong path.’

The university is in search of a new president following the announcement last week that Ben Sasse would leave the job at the end of the month, citing his wife Melissa’s deteriorating health.

During the press conference at St. Petersburg College, the governor said he would let the university’s board lead the effort to find a new president and reiterated that he was not involved in Sasse’s appointment. However, DeSantis didn’t mention the former Nebraska senator in his response about the future of UF.

Sasse’s 18-month presidency faced controversy from the start because he was the only publicly known finalist for the job and because of his anti-LGBTQ stances.

“We want somebody that’s going to lead. We want to be very clear that we’re dedicated to the pursuit of truth in higher education. We’re dedicated to academic rigor and high standards, and we’re dedicated to these institutions playing an important role in preparing our students to be citizens of this republic,” DeSantis said.

The governor also turned his attention to criticizing Columbia University over its leaders’ handling of pro-Palestine protests, calling the New York institution a propaganda machine.

“We don’t want to have a situation where all these demonstrators take over the university where they harassed Jewish students. So we’ve seen higher education go off the rails in other parts of the country,” DeSantis said. “I think that has done incalculable damage to those institutions’ brands and reputations. I think it’s hurt their academic quality. We have an opportunity to continue on a strong path, but we’ve got a lot more to do that says, you know, that’s not what higher education is all about.”

At the beginning of the month, UF leaders suspended for up to four years six students arrested during pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus, according to the independent student newspaper The Alligator .

UF already has an interim president: Kent Fuchs, Sasse’s predecessor. Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic University are also undergoing presidential searches. DeSantis said the up-for-grabs positions would be an opportunity to attract high-quality talent.

The governor held the press conference to award St. Petersburg College $7.2 million to establish a semiconductor lab.

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