University of Florida President Ben Sasse is resigning after his wife, Melissa, was recently diagnosed with epilepsy. Melissa, who suffered an aneurysm and a series of strokes in 2007, has been experiencing new memory issues, Sasse revealed.
“We’ve battled some nasty seizures the last couple of years, but she’s always remained a warrior,” he said.
The couple has two daughters in college and a youngest child who is turning 13.
Sasse, a Republican, left the Senate last year after being named the 13th president of the University of Florida. During his Senate tenure, he was a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump, joining a handful of Republicans to vote in favor of conviction during Trump’s impeachment trial after the 2021 Capitol riot. This stance led to criticism from within Sasse’s own party, despite his 85% voting alignment with Trump and his support for Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees.
Mori Hosseini, the chair of the university’s board of trustees, thanked Sasse for his leadership. “He has left a lasting impact on the university and all of those associated with it. We wish Ben all the best as he steps back to focus on his family,” Hosseini said.
Sasse expressed gratitude to the university community for their support. “We love you. You touched our hearts and made this more than a job — you made it our community,” he said. “That’s why we’re not going anywhere.”
As Ben Sasse steps down to care for his family, we offer our prayers for his wife’s health and for strength and comfort for their entire family during this challenging time. May they find peace and healing in the days ahead. Amen.