GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of Florida President Ben Sasse announced Thursday that he will be resigning at the end of July to spend time with his family and wife, who is battling epilepsy.
Sasse became the university’s 13th president when he was appointed in November 2022. He will resign July 31.
“My wife Melissa’s recent epilepsy diagnosis and a new batch of memory issues have been hard, but we’re facing it together,” Sasse said.
Two of the couple's daughters are in college and their youngest just turned 13 years old.
“Gator Nation needs a president who can keep charging hard, Melissa deserves a husband who can pull his weight, and my kids need a dad who can be home many more nights,” Sasse added. “I need to step back and rebuild more stable household systems for a time.”
Sasse said he will remain involved in the university as he transitions to a teaching and advisory role. In the meantime, the board of trustees will work “quickly and thoughtfully” to announce an interim president and begin searching for a new president.
Mori Hossini, the chair of the board of trustees, released the following statement:
“The Board of Trustees 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.”