Emory ATO accepts Provost Position at University of Cincinnati

After serving as senior vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs for four years, Santa Ono is leaving Emory to accept a job as provost of the University of Cincinnati effective September 1.

Ono said the job offer was bittersweet given how much he has loved working at Emory and how excited he is to serve as provost at Cincinnati.

“I’m leaving Emory with a very heavy heart,” Ono said. “I genuinely love the faculty, staff and students at Emory and will forever cherish my time here.”

Among his favorite memories at Emory include sitting in the audience while distinguished guests spoke at the school, watching the diversity of talent in the Emory Arts Competition and receiving a bid to be an honorary member of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO). Though he will miss Emory, he explained his responsibilities at the University of Cincinatti will be very similar to those he held at Emory. Ono will continue to focus on building a sense of academic community within the university while also creating outlets where people interested in different scholarly pursuits can meet and “share the excitement of discovery,” he said.

Throughout his tenure at Emory, Ono led specific academic initiatives by creating forums such as the Luminaries in Science and Luminaries in Arts and Humanities series. He organized thematic series such as Inquiry, Conflict and Peacebuilding in the Middle East.

Provost Earl Lewis wrote in an e-mail to the Wheel that Ono’s replacement will be decided during the next three weeks, with plans to announce his replacement by mid-July. He added that the projects covered within Ono’s portfolio of activities will be completed before his departure.

“Santa extended himself across a range of undergraduate student groups and organizations,” wrote Lewis. “His personal relations with those groups will undoubtedly be remembered as the core element of his legacy.”

Alex Kappus (’10C), a fellow member of ATO and close friend of Ono’s, said Ono will be remembered at Emory as someone who was able to balance his administrative role with his “kindness of heart.”

“I am sad to see him leave Emory, but in a way, my class entered with [Ono] so we now leave with him too,” Kappus said. “I look forward to hearing about the wonderful work he will continue to promote in the sphere of higher education.”