UF picks a new president, but owes the old one millions. Here's what to know

The University of Florida is poised to name former University of Alabama President Stuart Bell as its next leader, ending a turbulent two-year search marked by political controversy and a collapsed prior hire. But the transition comes with a steep cost: interim President Donald Landry is owed a $2 million severance after being passed over for the permanent job.

Here are key takeaways:

• The finalist: Stuart Bell, who spent a decade leading the University of Alabama, was named the sole finalist to become UF’s 14th president, emerging from a closely guarded search process that signaled a shift away from the politically combustible picks that defined the eras of Ben Sasse and Santa Ono.
• The payout: Thanks to an unusual clause in his one-year contract, UF owes interim leader Donald Landry a $2 million severance payment after he was not selected as a finalist, pushing his total maximum compensation for an eight-month tenure to $4.5 million.
• Who pays: Florida law caps the state-funded portion of college president salaries at $200,000, meaning Landry’s severance is likely to be funded through private donations rather than state dollars — an arrangement likely to draw scrutiny from lawmakers pushing tighter oversight of university spending.
• The political backdrop: Bell already has the endorsement of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said on social media that Bell “will help UF reach new heights,” following a stretch that included Sasse’s abrupt 2024 resignation and the Board of Governors’ rejection of Ono over past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
• What’s next: Bell is expected to visit Gainesville for public forums with trustees, faculty and students before the UF Board of Trustees votes on his appointment, with the final decision then moving to the State University System’s Board of Governors — the same body that rejected Ono.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.