Ben Sasse, the president of the University of Florida, has announced his resignation from the position effective today, July 31. Sasse, who has led one of the top public universities in the United States for nearly two years, cited his wife’s recent epilepsy diagnosis as the primary reason for his departure.
In a statement released on the social media platform X, Ben Sasse explained that his wife, Melissa, has been experiencing “a new batch of memory issues” related to her condition. The former U.S. senator from Nebraska now wishes to focus on his family’s needs and “rebuild more stable household systems.”
In his farewell message, he expressed gratitude to the university community, saying,
“I’m grateful for our board’s support. Mori and the board have giant hearts – for this university and for this community. It’s easy to see why..”
Ben Sasse’s appointment as the university’s 13th president in 2022 was met with controversy. Some faculty members and students didn’t appreciate his past stance on LGBTQ issues and questioned his qualifications to lead an institution of over 50,000 students. The selection process itself faced criticism for its perceived lack of transparency.
Mori Hosseini, chair of the university’s board of trustees, thanked Sasse for his service, saying,
“He has left a lasting impact on the university and all of those associated with it. We wish Ben all the best as he steps back to focus on his family.”
Despite stepping down from the presidency, Sasse plans to continue teaching at the university.
“I’m going to remain involved in serving our UF students — past, present, and future — but I need to walk arm-in-arm with my dearest friend more hours of every week.”
As the University of Florida prepares for this transition, the board of trustees will begin the search for a new president to lead the institution into its next chapter.