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.

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.

Santa Ono, the sole finalist to become the University of Florida’s next president, was blocked from assuming the position by the state’s top higher education board. The Florida Board of Governors rejected a motion to ratify Ono’s contract with UF in a 10-6 vote Tuesday after holding a tense hearing with him that day that