Overview
- The University of Florida Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Wednesday to select Dr. Stuart R. Bell and forwarded his nomination to the State University System Board of Governors for final approval on June 25.
- Bell led the University of Alabama from 2015 to 2025, has run the Southeastern Conference, and emphasizes experience in fundraising, faculty recruitment, and managing college athletics.
- Bell told trustees he will follow Florida law and said he will not restore DEI programs in Florida, and he previously closed Alabama’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in 2024 to comply with state law.
- Conservative critics, including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, faulted UF for naming Bell as the sole finalist and argued the process lacked transparency and multiple candidates, while trustees and the search chair say the search complied with state rules.
- The Board of Governors’ decision is uncertain because it rejected UF’s last proposed president in 2025, and the outcome could affect campus hiring, DEI policy enforcement, and how the university handles athletics and student recruitment.