GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – The Florida Board of Governors confirmed Dr. Stuart Bell as the 14th president of the University of Florida on Wednesday, following more than an hour of questioning from board members. The vote was 16-1, with board member Aubrey Edge casting the lone dissenting vote.
Board Questions Bell before the Vote
Board members questioned Bell on a range of topics, including his stance on free speech, DEI, and his plan to connect with students.
Bell said he does not take the opportunity for granted.
“I will serve with integrity, I will serve with humility, I will serve with accountability to this group and to my board of trustees. I am truly excited to be here,” Bell shared.
He repeatedly emphasized that he does not intend to bring DEI or what he called “woke” policies back to the university. Bell also outlined his priorities for the institution, citing leadership in artificial intelligence, healthcare, and agriculture.
“I do want to address one issue that I know there have been some questions about, and that’s about DEI, so I want to be very clear, and maybe we can set this aside,” said Bell. “I’m not coming to Florida to bring DEI or woke back to the State of Florida.”
Edge voted against Bell’s confirmation, citing concerns about Bell’s stance on DEI and what Edge described as declining national academic standards during Bell’s tenure as president of the University of Alabama.
Bell responded to Edge’s concerns, saying Alabama is ranked differently in research because its medical school is not located on the main campus.
Bell’s Plan for UF
After the vote, Bell emphasized the importance of collaboration in continuing the university’s success.
“We’re all going to have to be rowing in the same direction. We’re all going to have to be working for those aspirational goals that are laid out here, so I do covet your support. I covet what we’re going to have to do. And we’re going to have to lock arms with you to make sure that we’re able to do that,” Bell said.
Bell said he already has a plan for his first 100 days in office, which includes expediting searches for open dean positions. He met with former interim President Dr. Donald Landry this week to discuss those searches.
“We will prepare the best engineers, the best teachers, the best lawyers, the best doctors, the best service providers at the University of Florida first and foremost,” Bell said. “Then, what we do in research and discovery, what we do in agriculture, serving the state, and serving those industries. It will be remarkable.”
UF Athletics Director Scott Stricklin expressed his confidence in Bell in a statement to TV20:
“Dr. Bell brings extensive higher education leadership experience and a strong understanding of the important role athletics plays in advancing a university’s mission. His familiarity with the Southeastern Conference and commitment to excellence make him well-positioned to lead the University of Florida.
I look forward to working alongside Dr. Bell as we continue to build on Florida’s tradition of excellence, provide an outstanding experience for our student-athletes, and serve Gator Nation around the world. We are excited to welcome Dr. Bell and his family to the Gator community.”
RELATED: UF trustees submit Bell contract ahead of presidential confirmation vote
UF Presidential Search Process
It’s been a long road to finding a new president of the university following the resignation of former UF President Ben Sasse in 2024, less than two years after replacing former UF President Kent Fuchs.
The UF Board of Trustees’ initial pick, Dr. Santa Ono, was rejected by the state Board of Governors last year due to concerns over DEI and COVID policies during his tenure at the University of Michigan.
The trustees later appointed Landry as interim president of UF; however, he was passed over for the permanent president position. Due to provisions in his contract, he was entitled to $2 million in compensation despite not getting the job.
The UF Presidential Search Committee announced Bell as the sole finalist in May. While some raised concerns about diversity programs during his tenure at Alabama, much of the public criticism over the pick was about the process.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, called out the search committee for only selecting one finalist during a secret process. He also expressed concerns about Landry receiving a large payout.
After the UF trustees unanimously approved Bell as the next president, Board of Governors chair Alan Levine delayed the confirmation vote due to concerns about trustees’ governance. He accused the trustees of giving Chair Mori Hosseini improper authority that rightfully belongs to the university president or the full board.
Following a fiery back-and-forth between Levine and Hosseini, the Board of Governors agreed to address the governance concerns at a later date and to hold Bell’s confirmation vote on Wednesday.
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