Ben Sasse To Leave Senate

By Gordon Hopkins U.S. Senator Ben Sasse will likely resign his position by the end of the year and will accept a job as the president of the University of Florida. Although he has not yet been formally offered the position as of press time, he is the sole candidate. On Thursday, October 6, 2022, the University of Florida Presidential Search Committee announced that it had unanimously recommended Sasse as the sole finalist for consideration by its Board of Trustees.Benjamin Eric Sasse, a Republican, has been serving as the junior United States senator for Nebraska since 2015. In 2014, Sasse ran for a vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. He defeated Democratic nominee David Domina, 65 percent to 31 percent. In 2020, Sasse was re-elected to a second term. Sasse’s departure is not expected to change the balance of power, as a temporary successor to finish out his term will be selected by Governor Pete Ricketts, also a Republican.In 2010, Sasse was named the 15th president of Midland University in Fremont. He would be the 13th president of the University of Florida. According to a statement from the University of Florida, “The recruitment process was exhaustive and included outreach to more than 700 leaders within and outside of higher education. Ultimately, the Search Committee focused its attention on a dozen highly qualified diverse candidates. Nine were sitting presidents at major research universities, and seven were from AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) universities. Sasse was the unanimous choice of the UF Search Committee.”“This is right for the University of Florida, right for the state of Florida, and right for the Sasse family,” said Rahul Patel, chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “Ben brings intellectual curiosity, a belief in the power and potential of American universities, and an unmatched track record of leadership spanning higher education, government, and the private sector.” Patel added, “He has worked tirelessly for decades to empower people to accomplish their goals, placing education at the forefront of his lifelong service to this great nation. Having taught at the University of Texas, and served as a college president, Ben’s experiences are also deep and broad — from healthcare and technology to history and philosophy. His vision, humility, integrity, incredible personable nature, and deep concern for humanity are all traits that will serve the UF community exceptionally well. This is the right moment for such a gifted public servant to lead the Gator nation into the future.” “The University of Florida is the most interesting university in America right now, It’s the most important institution in the nation’s most economically dynamic state — and its board, faculty, and graduates are uniquely positioned to lead this country through an era of disruption. The caliber of teaching and research at UF is unmistakable, carried out through the core principles of shared governance and academic freedom. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to work alongside one of the nation’s most outstanding faculties.”Dr. Ben Sasse In an editorial published May 31, 2022, in The Atlantic, Sasse wrote, “We must build a university network that enhances social mobility, instead of reinforcing privilege. We need higher education to transform more lives by offering more accountability, more experimentation, more institutional diversity, more intellectual curiosity, more adaptive learning, and more degrees and certifications. We need a rethink, renewal, and expansion—tinkering around the edges won’t cut it.” The senator will visit campus on Monday, October 10, 2022, to meet with students, faculty, and other members of the university community.

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