Virginia Military Institute’s Board of Visitors president resigns

LEXINGTON, Va. (WRIC) -- John Adams, president of Virginia Military Institute's (VMI) Board of Visitors, has resigned due to "personal reasons."

According to the institute, Adams resigned from the position on Thursday, April 10, citing personal reasons. He reportedly served on the board since July 2022 and began serving as its president in July of 2024.

This personnel change comes over a month since the board's controversial move to decline to extend the contract of its superintendent, Major General Cedric Wins, the school's first Black superintendent.

The institute said it will hold a special meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 to elect a president to serve Adams' unexpired term as president.

VMI shared the following statement to faculty and staff on Friday, April 11:

Yesterday afternoon, John Adams ’96 resigned from the VMI Board of Visitors citing personal reasons. Adams had served on the board since July 2022 including as president of the board since July 2024. The board will hold a special meeting virtually on Wednesday, April 16 at 2 p.m. to elect a president to serve Adams’ unexpired term as president and to discuss the agenda for their upcoming board meeting May 1 – 3, 2025. Virginia Military Institute

To find information about the special meeting and to view a live stream, visit the institute's website.