University of Florida presidential hopeful Stuart Bell says he won’t bring ‘woke’ back

Stuart Bell, a finalist for the University of Florida (UF) presidency, pledged to align with conservative higher education policies in Florida, including opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. During forums, Bell emphasized his support for state-aligned reforms and referenced his tenure at the University of Alabama, where he replaced a DEI division with a new department focused on opportunities and connections. UF has been without a permanent president since Ben Sasse resigned in 2024, and a prior candidate, Santa Ono, was rejected by the Board of Governors.