In a surprise twist, Florida’s top higher education board voted against a contract for Santa Ono, who was set to be the president of the University of Florida.

Longtime academic Santa Ono was rejected Tuesday for the University of Florida presidency by the state university system board amid sharp criticism from political conservatives about his past support for diversity,

Santa Ono, the president of the University of Michigan, was unanimously approved by Florida’s board despite criticism from conservatives of his past views on diversity programs.