University of Florida President Ben Sasse Announces Resignation

The president of the president of the University of Florida, Ben Sasse, confirmed on Thursday he would be resigning from his post later this month. His last working day as president of UF is scheduled for July 31.

“My spouse Melissa’s sudden diagnosis of epilepsy and a fresh set of memory problems were hard, but we’re dealing with it together,” Sasse noted in a press release. “Our two amazing children are in college, while our oldest is only turning 13. Gator Nation wants a president who can keep pushing hard; Melissa deserves a husband who can do his share of lifting; and the kids of mine need a dad who can be home for many more nights.

I need to pull back and construct more solid home structures for a period of time. I’m going to continue to be active in supporting our UF studentss—both now and in the futuree—but I need to be out walking arm-in-arm with my closest buddy more hours every single week.”

In an open letter to the UF community, Sasse recounted the challenges his family experienced, specifically highlighting Melissa’s aneurysm and several strokes in 2007. He remarked that physicians at that time were preparing them for the most severe trials, yet with tenacity and faith, they weathered those trials together.

 Ben Sasse has urged the Board of Supervisors to begin searching for the next president. He was selected as the thirteenth president of UF in the month of November 2022. “The Board is going to work rapidly and deliberately to announce an indefinite president and prepare the groundwork for the search for a new president,” the institution stated in a statement. “The Board will be involved in the UF neighborhood every step of the way.”

Ben Sasse wife, Melissa, who endured an aneurysm and strokes in 2007, has lately been diagnosed with epilepsy and is suffering from new memory challenges. “We’ve battled several nasty seizures the last several years, but she’s constantly maintained a warrior,” Sasse added.

A Republican, Sasse departed the Senate last year to become the 13th president of the institution. During his service in the Senate, he was an outspoken opponent of former President Donald Trump and was one of the few Republicans who supported his conviction in Trump’s suspension trial after the 2021 Capitol riot. This attitude sparked criticism from inside his own party, given his record of supporting Trump 85% of the time and backing his three Supreme Court candidates.

Ben Sasse selection as president of UF was met with criticism. He encountered strong backlash from some staff and students owing to his stance opposing same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ concerns. Concerns were also raised regarding his credentials to run an institution with over 50,000 students. The university’s Senate expressed little trust in the selection procedure that resulted in Sasse being the single candidate.

The head of the university’s council of trustees, Mori Hosseini, expressed thanks for Sasse’s leadership throughout his term.