Stuart R. Bell is named University of Florida's next president by the Board of Trustees, facing state-level confirmation. His appointment follows intense debate over DEI programs and the prior rejection of Santa J. Ono, with Bell assuring he won't bring 'woke' DEI back to Florida.
Stuart Bell, a candidate for University of Florida president, distances himself from past diversity initiatives, emphasizing "merit" over DEI. This follows Florida's anti-DEI legislation and Bell's previous actions at the University of Alabama.
Research universities spent over $37 million on federal lobbying in 2025. Major players like the University of Florida and University of Phoenix addressed federal policy shifts, OBBBA, and research funding.
