The University of Michigan announced on Wednesday that the next president will be Santa J. Ono, a biomedical researcher known for his leadership in the university’s affordability and action on climate change.
Dr. Ono, President and Vice-President of the University of British Columbia, spent months investigating to find a successor to Mark S. Shrissel, who was dismissed in January for stating that the university had an inappropriate relationship. As a result, it was selected. With subordinates.
When announcing Dr. Ono’s election, the university said he would be Michigan’s first Asian-American leader. Born to Japanese immigrant parents in Vancouver, he grew up in Pennsylvania and Maryland and holds US citizenship.
Michigan, one of the nation’s leading public universities, received a record 84,000 applications for classes this fall. However, 59-year-old Dr. Ono will lead a controversial and difficult time on the university campus, split by discussions about cultural wars and college costs. Beyond the controversy over Dr. Shrissel’s dismissal, the university must face a coronavirus pandemic, fragmented cultural issues, the dismissal of Provos for sexual harassment accusations, and a sexual abuse scandal involving doctors. One million who agreed to pay the dollar.
In an interview, Dr. Ono stated that he would accept the mantra of one of the university’s longtime presidents and his mission was to “strive for the public good” and to provide “unusual education for the common people.” Stated.
Recent issues with American university campuses
Dr. Ono acknowledged the need for healing at the university after Dr. Shrissel’s unusual dropout and stated that he would like to integrate faculty, staff and students.
Dr. Ono, who identifies a devout Christian on a particularly controversial topic of abortion, disagrees with previous statements from the university, including one released by the university’s medical school on June 24. Said that. High quality and safe reproductive care for patients, including “abortion care”.
Michigan’s 1931 law banning abortion has not been enforced and is now part of a court battle.
Michigan’s Regent Chairman Paul Brown described Dr. Ono as “usually containing two contradictory personality traits. He is open, empathetic, friendly, and at the same time analytical and entrepreneurial. I have. ” The board unanimously resolved to support Dr. Ono.
Dr. Ono is known in the scientific community primarily for his work on the immune system and eye diseases, but it also has a more playful side. He is known for dressing up in Santa Claus costumes. He is also considered an avid sports fan and a major Big Ten University asset.
At a more serious level, he has exposed his personal struggle with mental health as a youth. After a student at the University of Cincinnati, chaired by Dr. Ono, committed suicide, he urged students suffering from mental illness to seek counseling and discussed how he tried to overdose cold medicine and beer at the age of 14. rice field. And in his twenties he tried to commit suicide again.
In addition to his leadership roles in British Columbia and Cincinnati, Dr. Ono was previously Deputy President of Emory University. Educated at the University of Chicago and Magill University, Dr. Ono also teaches at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and University College London.
Since Dr. Schrissel’s resignation in January, the university has been run by Interim President Mary Sue Coleman, who was Dr. Schrissel’s predecessor until taking office in 2014.