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,

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.

Those who voted against Ono pointed to what they described as substantive concerns to his record and responses during a tense, hours-long interview. Board members cited his reversal on diversity and climate change initiatives, and his delayed response to antisemitism during his tenures at University of Michigan and University of British Columbia.