BUZZ
University of Alabama’s former president Stuart Bell heavily promoted DEI, expert warns
University of Florida’s intended presidential hire heavily supports “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives, according to a higher education scholar.
On May 18, the University of Florida board of trustees announced that Stuart Bell, the former president of University of Alabama, was the sole finalist for the same job at the public university in Gainesville.
“Bell is expected to be considered by UF’s Board of Trustees June 11, and if approved, he’ll await final confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors,” campus newspaper the Alligator reported.
Bell’s potential selection follows fallout last year after the university similarly tried to hire University of Michigan President Santa Ono for the role. However, conservative criticism of Ono’s support for DEI ultimately led to his rejection almost a year ago.
Now similar concerns are being raised about Bell’s record.
“Bell is expected to be considered by UF’s Board of Trustees June 11, and if approved, he’ll await final confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors,” John Sailer at the Manhattan Institute wrote on X.
He provided a brief overview of how Bell not only allowed, but encouraged DEI on campus.
“Bell founded Alabama’s DEI office in 2017 and hired its first chief diversity officer. His strategic plan heavily emphasized DEI,” Sailer wrote. “In 2020, he appointed a DEI committee to produce a ‘Path Forward Diversity Report,’ which ratcheted up DEI infrastructure and surveillance.”
Sailer shared a video where Bell boasts about how “over one-third of our undergraduate curriculum is diversity related.”
“Even when Alabama’s legislature abolished DEI, Bell kept the school’s DEI officers and renamed the DEI office,” Sailer warned. “His diversity chief is still a senior administrator at Alabama today.”
There is much more to be said about Bell’s dismal record at Alabama, none of it reassuring to those hoping for continued and deeper reform at the University of Florida. If UF is looking for managed decline, Bell is an excellent choice.
More soon.
— John Sailer (@JohnDSailer) May 18, 2026
Meanwhile, Florida leaders are raising concerns about the search process.
U.S. Senator Rick Scott, a former governor of the Sunshine State, released a four-page letter question the transparency surrounding Bell’s selection.
He also called it “crazy” that interim president Don Landry is reportedly set to be paid millions of dollars for not being selected as permanent president.
“No one really knows anything about either of these people, or any other potential candidate, because there was no public search or vetting process,” the Republican Senator wrote.
I’m concerned @UF is going to pay someone millions of dollars for not getting a job.
Read more here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1Dc29y5Ioh
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) May 20, 2026
He also raised other transparency concerns about the operations of the university.
MORE: Miami U. professor loses First Amendment lawsuit against DEI cuts
