Citing wife’s health, ex-Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse resigns as university president

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Less than two years into the job, Ben Sasse is stepping down as president of the University of Florida.

The former U.S. senator from Nebraska made the announcement Thursday, citing his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis.

“I need to step back for a time and focus more on the needs of my family,” he wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

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Sasse said his wife’s health problems began in 2007, when she suffered an aneurysm and a series of strokes.

She “made an incredible comeback,” he wrote, but was recently diagnosed with epilepsy and is facing memory problems.

“She’s the strongest person I know,” Sasse said. “We’ve battled some nasty seizures the last couple years, but she’s always remained a warrior.”

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Sasse said he will remain at the university as president emeritus and a professor.

Before he was elected to the Senate, Sasse led Midland University in Fremont.

He resigned from the Senate in January 2023 to take the UF job.

Gov. Jim Pillen then appointed his predecessor, Pete Ricketts, to Sasse’s seat.

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