Virginia’s Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, representing the Democratic Party, has requested that the University of Virginia (UVA) pause its search for a new president until five new trustees are appointed.
In her letter, Spanberger conveyed to UVA’s Board of Visitors her concerns that recent actions by the board have eroded both public and community confidence in its ability to govern effectively and transparently.
This request followed the resignation of former UVA President James E. Ryan, who stated that he faced pressure from the Trump administration regarding the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the university. His departure came after the Department of Justice directed universities to confirm the elimination of DEI efforts from their campuses.
“I urge you not to rush the search process or finalize candidates for the president and chairman roles until the board is completely filled and compliant, which means that the new board members I’ve appointed have been approved by the General Assembly,” Spanberger stated.
Spanberger detailed in her letter that the diminishing trust in UVA’s Board of Visitors, as perceived by the public and university community, is evident from multiple votes of no confidence from both the Faculty Senate and the Student Senate.
“The loss of trust is shown through these votes of no confidence from the Faculty and Student Senates, who are essential to the university’s success and are directly impacted by critical decisions made by the Board of Governors,” she wrote. “Moreover, the Board is incomplete, as five appointees lack General Assembly approval, which also brings into question the board’s compliance with legal requirements and the legitimacy of its actions.”
Spanberger described Ryan’s resignation as an instance of federal overreach that the board did not contest, emphasizing that finding UVA’s next president is a vital task for the university’s board of governors.
A UVA spokesperson, Brian Coy, acknowledged in a statement that the University’s Committee on Leadership and Visitors is reviewing Spanberger’s letter and is prepared to collaborate with her. According to reports, “University leadership and the Board of Visitors have reviewed the letter and are ready to work with the next governor and her team to further the interests of the University of Virginia and the commonwealth.”
