Ben Sasse Resigns as University of Florida President
Former Senator Returns to Academia
Effective July 31, 2024
Gainesville, Fla. – University of Florida President Ben Sasse announced Thursday, January 12, 2023, that he will resign from his current position as President effective July 31, 2024. Sasse has asked the Board of Trustees to initiate a national search for his successor.
In a letter to the UF community, Sasse said his decision was "heartbreaking" but that it was the "right decision for my family." He explained that his wife, Melissa, has struggled with severe depression and that they had agreed it was time for them to return home to Nebraska to be closer to their family.
"Melissa has been battling depression for many years, and it has recently taken a turn for the worse," Sasse wrote. "We have decided that the best thing for our family is for us to be closer to home, where we can be surrounded by our support system."
Sasse was appointed as UF's 13th president in February 2022, after serving as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 2015 to 2023. During his time at UF, he has focused on academic excellence, faculty recruitment and retention, and student success.
"Ben Sasse has been an outstanding leader for the University of Florida," said Mori Hosseini, Chairman of the UF Board of Trustees. "He has set a clear vision for the university's future, and he has made significant progress in advancing our priorities. We respect his decision to step down, and we wish him and his family all the best."
The Board of Trustees will begin the search for Sasse's successor immediately. The search committee will be chaired by Mori Hosseini and will include representatives from the faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
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