UVA selects its next president despite political firestorm
VENN
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- Despite significant controversy and calls for the search to be paused, the University of Virginia (UVA) officially has a new president as of Friday.
On Friday, Dec. 19, UVA's Board of Visitors selected Scott C. Beardsley, Dean of the UVA Darden School of Business, as the university's 10th president, according to a university press release.
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"In a moment when institutions of higher education across the nation are facing complex questions regarding academic and institutional independence, research funding changes, a shifting landscape for collegiate athletics, and many others, the board identified Beardsley’s experience leading large, multifaceted organizations and managing competing priorities as key attributes," UVA said in the release.
Beardsley has been with the university since 2015, when he took on the position of the Darden School's dean and "elevated the graduate business school to new heights, achieving historic levels of student success, academic excellence and fundraising."
“I am deeply honored to be named the 10th president of the University of Virginia, an institution with a historic legacy shaped by visionaries and dedicated members of the University community,” Beardsley said in the release. “As president, I embrace the responsibility of carrying forward that legacy while advancing UVA’s mission and ensuring we are prepared for the evolving landscape of higher education and health care. I am committed to excellence and bringing a results-driven and student-centered approach to promote the University’s academic excellence, faculty strength, exceptional patient care, financial sustainability, public service mission and impact for the long term.”
Board's decision made amid fierce political battle
The university has been at the center of a political firestorm in recent months, with leaders battling it out over what they believe to be the truth behind former UVA president Jim Ryan’s resignation.
In late June 2025, Ryan said he would resign after the Trump administration called on him to do so amid an investigation into “the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.” At the time, Ryan said he would not put UVA in jeopardy “by fight[ing] the federal government in order to save [his] own job.”
Then, in mid-November 2025, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) asked the board to pause its search for UVA’s next president until a full board could be appointed following her inauguration on Jan. 17, 2026. She said such a delay would help rebuild public trust in the board and its intentions.
Spanberger’s request sent sparks flying, with outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) accusing her of sharing false claims about UVA’s Board of Visitors and Ryan’s resignation.
Soon after, Ryan detailed the events he says led to his resignation in a letter to the UVA Faculty Senate, responding to a similar letter from other board members. He made a variety of accusations, including that two board members took a leading role in negotiating his resignation with the DOJ without his knowledge.
That same day, by an overwhelming majority, the UVA Faculty Senate passed a resolution asking not only that the presidential search be paused until after Spanberger’s inauguration, but that those two named board members step down.
In the aftermath, political leaders remain divided
The board's decision to appoint a new president on Friday goes against both Spanberger and the UVA Faculty Senate's wishes, but drew praise from Youngkin. He made the following statement on X:
"I congratulate Scott Beardsley on his unanimous election as President of the University of Virginia. I know Dean Beardsley only by his reputation, which is stellar, and based on his accomplishments at the Darden School of Business, which is consistently ranked as the top public business school in the country.
I want to thank the Board of Visitors and the Search Committee who conducted a robust, world-class search process. I look forward to the University of Virginia continuing to be one of the best universities in our nation."
By contrast, Lieutenant Governor-elect Ghazala Hashmi (D) issued a lengthy statement in which she expressed concern about what this move will mean for the future of UVA. That statement is as follows:
"Governor Youngkin’s decision to advance the appointment of a new president at the University of Virginia in the waning days of his administration, just as Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger prepares to assume office, raises serious concerns about process, institutional norms, and respect for a democratic transition.
The presidency of the University of Virginia is among the most consequential leadership roles in public higher education, both in Virginia and across the country. This position shapes the academic mission, research priorities, faculty governance, and the university’s relationship with the Commonwealth for years to come. Decisions of this magnitude require deliberation, transparency, and meaningful engagement with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader university community. Rushing such an appointment at the end of an outgoing administration risks undermining shared governance and eroding confidence in the independence of the institution.
These concerns are compounded by the fact that the University’s Board of Visitors is not fully constituted. A board that is incomplete, particularly during a transition between administrations, cannot credibly claim the full authority or legitimacy required to appoint a president whose tenure will extend well beyond the current governor’s term. Proceeding under these circumstances weakens the integrity of the process and invites questions about whether political expediency is being placed ahead of sound governance.
As an educator and longtime advocate for Virginia’s public colleges and universities, I know that leadership decisions of this scale must be guided by academic values, institutional stability, and public trust, and not by political timing or calculus. In November, in large numbers, Virginians voted for a new direction; honoring the voices of voters includes allowing the incoming administration, in partnership with a fully constituted Board of Visitors, to participate meaningfully in selecting long-term leadership.
The appropriate next step is to fully pause the presidential appointment process until the new administration is in place and the Board of Visitors is appropriately constituted. At that point, the University should undertake an open, inclusive search that is grounded in shared governance and informed by broad campus and public input. Such steps will help to ensure that the next president is chosen through a process that is transparent, legitimate, and worthy of the University of Virginia’s stature and mission.”
Democratic senators like L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) also expressed their disappointment in the board's move.
"Scott Beardsley, you will quickly learn about the separation of powers between branches and what happens when one branch gives a middle finger to another that funds, regulates and allows their existence," she wrote on X. "Buckle up."
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Notably, UVA leaders stand firm behind the board and its decision, emphasizing the work that was put into the search for Ryan's replacement.
“As stated at the outset of this search, we have been committed to an inclusive, transparent and thoughtful process to ensure the next president of the University of Virginia is equipped to play a critical role in the future of our great institution,” said Rachel Sheridan, the board's rector and chair of the special committee, in the release. “After careful deliberation and close consultation with the UVA community and stakeholders throughout the process, including faculty, staff, students, alumni and parents, we are honored to announce Dean Beardsley as the University’s next leader.”
