University of Florida President Ben Sasse Resigns

After spending less than 2 years as President of the University of Florida, former Senator Ben Sasse has resigned effective July 21, 2024.

Sasse cited his wife’s ongoing health issues and wanting to spend more time with his children as the reasons for his abrupt departure.

“My wife Melissa’s recent epilepsy diagnosis and a new batch of memory issues have been hard, but we’re facing it together,” said President Sasse. “Our two wonderful daughters are in college, but our youngest is just turning 13. Gator Nation needs a president who can keep charging hard, Melissa deserves a husband who can pull his weight, and my kids need a dad who can be home many more nights. I need to step back and rebuild more stable household systems for a time. 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.”

The university responded to Sasse’s resignation, thanking him for his service.

“The Board of Trustees thanks Dr. Sasse for his service to the University of Florida. Under his leadership, UF has continued to advance on the national and international stage, benefiting our students, faculty, alumni, community and state. 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,” said Mori Hosseini, chair of the Board of Trustees.