Florida state university leaders voted to reject Santo Ono as president of the University of Florida, following Republican backlash over the former University of Michigan president’s previous support for diversity programs.

Longtime academic Santa Ono has been rejected for the University of Florida presidency by the state university system board.

Former University of Michigan president, Dr. Santa Ono, saw his candidacy to become the next president at the University of Florida rejected Tuesday by the state board of governors amid backlash from Republicans.