What to expect as the University searches for its 10th president
By Nicolas Biernacki | July 27, 2025The special committee to nominate the 10th president was announced Friday.
The special committee to nominate the 10th president was announced Friday.
The committee includes most sitting members of the Board of Visitors, other faculty representatives and alumni and just one current undergraduate student, who is also a sitting member of the Board.
In many cases, a no-confidence vote may soon be followed by steps taken to remove the leadership that may be acting against the wishes of a community.
Kibbe’s departure marks the end of an ongoing battle between U.Va. Health employees and their senior leadership.
The top Democrat in the Senate warned in particular about choosing former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, or any other candidate without a higher education background.
The Jefferson Council, a conservative alumni group, has advocated for Ryan’s removal for years, and now, Jefferson Council President Joel Gardner hopes that this “turning point” is taken advantage of.
During the conversation, faculty raised several questions about the external pressure that led to Ryan’s resignation, how concerned faculty may respond and how the process of finding a new President will be run.
Here is a look at Board members’ political donations — all but one of whom has records of political donations which are overwhelmingly to Republican candidates and campaigns.
At the time of publication, around 160 faculty members have signed an open letter condemning political interference.
Surovell said any attempt by the Board to install a new, permanent president would not be viewed kindly by the Senate.
The lawsuit is the Democrats’ next step in the political standoff regarding the legitimacy of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee’s vote to deny eight of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointees to university boards June 10.
The groups emerged after a tumultuous year for both higher education more broadly and the University community.
The Committee also blocked appointees to the Board of Visitors at other Virginia schools.
The Board also elected Rachel Sheridan as the next Rector and Porter Wilkinson as next Vice Rector.
The committee oversees the University's internal and external auditors, reviews financial and operational risk mitigation strategies and assesses University compliance with state and national reporting requirements across the University's academic and medical divisions.
“I guess I'm wildly disappointed,” Davis said. “I think we have gone above and beyond to try to be incredibly transparent, to be incredibly fiscally responsive.
Wise offers the Year in Wise program in which in-state students on the U.Va. College of Arts and Sciences waitlist may enroll in Wise for one year and then transfer to University Grounds in Charlottesville to complete their degree.
Changes to the 2025 plan include the removal of three previously authorized projects and the deferral of 12 also previously approved projects which currently do not have sufficient funding sources.
Student participants from the University Career Center’s Internship Placement Program also spoke before the Committee to share their experiences.
The Honor the Future campaign was launched in 2019 with the pillars of sustaining education, securing democracy and driving research, and will officially end June 30.