University of Florida President Ben Sasse to leave post, citing wife's health
University of Florida President and former Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse (R) said Thursday he plans to leave his post at the end of the month, pointing to a family health issue..
“After extensive prayer and lots of family tears, I today asked UF Chair Mori Hosseini and our Board of Trustees to initiate a search for a new president of the university,” Sasse said in a post on the social platform X. “I need to step back for a time and focus more on the needs of my family while we rebuild more stable household systems."
Sasse left the Senate in January of last year after he was approved by a school governing body in late 2022 to step into the role of being the university's next president.
“As many of you know, my wife Melissa suffered an aneurysm and series of strokes in 2007,” Sasse said in his X post. “Back then, the docs prepared us for the worst, but – in God’s providence – she made an incredible comeback. In the years since – from Nebraska to DC to Florida – she kept our family grounded while I missed too many family dinners, little league games, hugs, and tears. She’s the strongest person I know. We’ve battled some nasty seizures the last couple years, but she’s always remained a warrior.”
“In recent months, Melissa has been diagnosed with epilepsy and has been struggling with a new batch of memory issues. It’s been hard, but we’ve faced it together,” Sasse continued in his post. “A lot of late nights, a lot of hard decisions, and a lotta ‘what matters most?’ conversations.”
Mori Hosseini, chair of the Board of Trustees for the school, said in an announcement the board “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,” Hosseini said.