Santa J. Ono, PhD, is a distinguished leader in higher education. As the president of the University of Michigan, he has made significant contributions to academia, research, and public service.
Before joining the University of Michigan, he served as president and vice chancellor of the University of British Columbia, where he played a key role in advancing research and innovation. Prior to that, he was president and provost of the University of Cincinnati, helping shape policies in technology-based economic development as a board member of Ohio’s Third Frontier program. He also held leadership positions at Emory University and taught at Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and University College London.
A globally recognized scholar, Dr. Ono earned his BA in biological sciences from the University of Chicago and a PhD in experimental medicine from McGill University, where he graduated with honors. His groundbreaking research on eye disease and the immune system has led him to serve on review panels for the National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust, as well as on the editorial boards of leading scientific journals. He has also advised biotech and pharmaceutical companies and contributed to national and international scientific policy.
His dedication to higher education leadership is evident in his roles as chair of the Council of Presidents of the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities (APLU) and as a board member for the American Council on Education (ACE), the Council on Competitiveness, and Internet2. He also chairs the University of Michigan Health Board, Fulbright Canada, and the University Climate Change Coalition, among other organizations.
Dr. Ono’s work has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors, including the Helen Hay Whitney Fellowship, the American Diabetes Association Career Award, and the Roche Award. His academic and professional achievements have led to his election to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He has received multiple honorary doctorates and was inducted into the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars.
Beyond his academic and research contributions, Dr. Ono is committed to fostering collaboration between nations and disciplines. He serves as an honorary chairperson of the Japan America Society of Michigan and Southwestern Ontario and is a trustee of the United States-Japan Foundation.
