Santa Ono resigned his job at the University of Michigan last month when he was named the sole finalist for the top job at the University of Florida.

Florida’s university leaders on Tuesday blocked Santa Ono from becoming the University of Florida’s president after a weeks-long campaign against him by conservative commentators.

Florida state university leaders voted to reject Santo Ono as president of the University of Florida, following Republican backlash over the former University of Michigan president’s previous support for diversity programs.