Archivist Report on Jim Ryan

Editor’s Note: This report is not comprehensive but offers a well-rounded snapshot of former University President Jim Ryan’s tenure on Grounds. The archivists will continue to be updated as new coverage is released. You may also view this report as a Google Doc here.

I. Introduction

This is a collection of articles The Cavalier Daily published related to former University President Jim Ryan during his tenure as the University’s ninth president, which lasted from 2018 to 2025. Ryan has been mentioned in hundreds of articles from The Cavalier Daily, many of which are not included in this report. The articles below focus either predominantly or entirely on the former President and his initiatives, interviews and statements, as well as student and faculty perspectives on his leadership over the years.

This report joins a series of other archivist reports on significant events in the University’s history, and we hope it serves as a helpful resource for those looking to learn more about the defining events of Ryan’s term.

II. Coverage

Sept. 28, 2017: Ryan's salary will be more than Sullivan's (article)

2018: The First Year Experience

March 29, 2018: President-elect Ryan talks about life’s essential questions at Virginia Festival of the Book (article)
Aug. 2, 2018: Jim Ryan lays out plan, vision for his term as U.Va.’s ninth President (article)
Aug 11, 2018: ‘We are sorry’: University President Jim Ryan delivers remarks on one-year anniversary of violent torchlit march at U.Va. (article)
Aug. 29, 2018: FERGUSON: Areas of focus for President Ryan (article)
Sept. 21, 2018: Ryan says he doesn’t favor cancelling classes on Election Day, but supports faculty discretion for exams (article)
Sept. 21, 2018: U.Va. President Jim Ryan to prioritize community engagement, strategic planning (article)
Oct. 17, 2018: University plans eventful weekend for inauguration of President Ryan (article)
Oct. 17, 2018: Ryan creates working group to improve U.Va.’s relationship with local community (article)
Oct. 19, 2018: 5K planned as part of inauguration weekend festivities (article)
Oct. 19, 2018: In-state students from families earning less than $80K will be able to attend U.Va. tuition-free, Ryan announces (article)
Oct. 20, 2018: Jim Ryan sworn in as U.Va.’s ninth president, delivers inaugural address during ceremony (article)
Oct. 21, 2018: ‘Celebration of Service’ event highlights student, nonprofit organizations on Inauguration Weekend (article)
Oct. 22, 2018: U.Va. President Jim Ryan, students and faculty share personal stories at Inauguration Weekend event (article)
Nov. 15, 2018: Examining Ryan’s tuition promise (article)
Nov. 26, 2018: DREAMers on Grounds pens letter to Ryan calling for support for immigrants (article)
Nov. 27, 2018: Ryan facilitates conversation on U.Va.’s goals, shortcomings at ‘Ours to Shape’ event (article)
Nov. 28, 2018: Ryan’s working group seeks to bolster relationship between local community, U.Va. (article)
Dec. 6, 2018: Ryan expresses support for tuition increases as students plan protest (article)
Dec. 7, 2018: On living wage, Ryan hesitates, citing legal barriers and potential costs (article)

2019: Ryan’s 10-Year Plan

Jan. 23, 2019: Student advocacy groups respond to efforts of President Ryan’s working group (article)
Feb. 3, 2019: President Ryan addresses Northam photograph (article)
Feb. 7, 2019: WARTEL: Jim Ryan is not our savior (article)
March 1, 2019: President Ryan’s community working group identifies jobs and wages as its top priority issue in the Charlottesville region (article)
March 7, 2019: EDITORIAL: Jim Ryan was wrong to accept Northam’s appointment (article)
March 7, 2019: U.Va. President Jim Ryan responds to student concerns, issues facing University (article)
March 26, 2019: President Ryan issues statement condemning racial violence against Charlottesville High School (article)
June 7, 2019: Board of Visitors endorses 10-year strategic plan (article)
Aug. 25, 2019: BOV moving forward with approval of President Ryan’s 10-year strategic plan (article)
Sept. 4, 2019: WARTEL: The U.Va. strategic plan is a red herring for corporate interest (article)
Sept. 12, 2019: President Ryan responds to pushback against the Good Ol’ Song video campaign (article)
Sept. 22, 2019: YOWELL: Don’t police Tech and U.Va.’s rivalry (article)
Sept. 25, 2019: U.Va. is considering requiring all second-year students to live on Grounds (article)
Sept. 25, 2019: EDITORIAL: Second-years shouldn’t be required to live on Grounds (article)
Oct. 24, 2019: University expands living wage plan to include contracted employees (article)
Oct. 30, 2019: EDITORIAL: Ryan’s minimum wage announcement puts U.Va. on the right track (article)
Nov. 16, 2019: President Ryan apologizes for canceling 21-gun salute from Veterans Day ceremony (article)
Dec. 19, 2019: LETTER: Thank you President Ryan for carbon neutrality by 2030 (article)

2020: Pandemic and Contention

Jan. 17, 2020: U.Va. adopts ‘Inclusive Excellence’ framework (article)
Jan. 23, 2020: EDITORIAL: What is ‘Inclusive Excellence’ supposed to do? (article)
Feb. 19, 2020: RYAN: Toward a shared sense of purpose and community (article)
March 10, 2020: President Ryan announces University support to create over 1,000 affordable housing units (article)
April 3, 2020: University leaders host virtual town hall to address ongoing COVID-19 impact (article)
May 10, 2020: 'It will not be a normal semester next fall': President Ryan discusses fall semester plans on 'Face the Nation' (article)
May 31, 2020: EDITORIAL: President Ryan’s statement is insufficient (article)
June 1, 2020: U.Va. community members critique President Ryan’s statement on protests in response to murder of George Floyd, police brutality (article)
June 4, 2020: After criticism, President Ryan releases follow-up statement addressing murder of George Floyd, nationwide protests (article)
July 11, 2020: ‘Facing history head-on’: Black student activists submit demands to President Ryan’s racial equity task force (article)
Sept. 10, 2020: President Ryan reflects on return to Grounds (article)
Sept. 14, 2020: President Ryan updates Board of Visitors on the University’s reopening (article)
Oct. 2, 2020: President Ryan addresses controversy over Lawn room signs, contextualization of Jefferson statue (article)
Oct. 28, 2020: Students demonstrate at the Rotunda in response to President Ryan’s statement about Jefferson’s legacy (article)
Oct. 30, 2020: GRIM: President Ryan shouldn’t live in a mansion (article)
Nov. 2, 2020: University President Jim Ryan addresses the U.Va. community on the eve of Election Day (article)
Nov. 19, 2020: U.Va. leadership considers fall semester a success, looks ahead to spring (article)

2021: Reopening Concerns and Protocols

Jan. 30, 2021: U.Va. town hall addresses COVID-19 protocols and concerns for the spring semester (article)
Feb. 19, 2021: U.Va. Town Hall: Leaders maintain IFC, ISC events are just part of widespread rise in COVID-19 violations (article)
April 23, 2021: EDITORIAL: We could be happier, President Ryan (article)
May 3, 2021: U.Va. leadership addresses community concerns about affordable housing initiative at community engagement event (article)
Sept. 1, 2021: U.Va. President Jim Ryan receives $200,000 bonus one year after COVID-related pay cut (article)
Sept. 23, 2021: President Ryan discusses health, safety, equity ahead of BOV meeting (article)

2022: National News on Grounds

March 7, 2022: Board of Visitors extends Ryan’s employment, approves next student member (article)
March 25, 2022: RYAN AND BAUCOM: Conversations around Pence show free expression is ‘alive and well’ on Grounds (article)
May 31, 2022: University President Jim Ryan denounces mass shootings (article)
Aug. 11, 2022: Full transcript of interview with Jim Ryan on five-year anniversary of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017 (article)
Nov. 13, 2022: New members of University President Jim Ryan’s Student Advisory Council share goals for program’s first year (article)

2023: Honoring Lives Lost

April 21, 2023: Jim Ryan runs Boston Marathon in honor of November shooting victims (article)
May 27, 2023: President Ryan says U.Va. remains committed to racial diversity ahead of Supreme Court affirmative action ruling (article)
Sept. 17, 2023: Board of Visitors defines working relationship with University President Jim Ryan (article)
Nov. 7, 2023: Jim Ryan announces upcoming initiative related to Middle Eastern conflict (article)
Nov. 9, 2023: University announces launch of pan-university entrepreneurship initiative (article)
Nov. 12, 2023: President Ryan invites University community members to honor lives lost in Nov. 13 shooting (article)
Dec. 4, 2023: The president’s home is an oasis for all U.Va. students (article)

2024: Addressing Concerns

Jan. 18, 2024: EDITORIAL: We expect too much of our university presidents (article)
Jan. 29, 2024: HAGMAGID: We must expect more of our institutional leaders (article)
Feb. 18, 2024: New committee begins meeting to create guidelines for University political statements (article)
March 28, 2024: President Jim Ryan to meet graduate students and address payment concerns (article)
April 8, 2024: President Ryan commits to another meeting with graduate students (article)
May 13, 2024: Administrators and faculty paint conflicting pictures of May 4 encampment clearing (article)
Sept. 9, 2024: University presidents discuss the future of higher education (article)
Dec. 8, 2024: President Ryan announces $20 million commitment to the School of Data Science (article)

2025: Resignation and Reactions

Jan. 27, 2025: Halfway there — a progress report of U.Va.’s 2030 Plan (article)
Jan. 27, 2025: UPADHYAYA: The Great and not-so-Good sides of U.Va.’s 2030 housing plan (article)
April 22, 2025: President Ryan signs collective statement condemning Trump administration (article)
May 1, 2025: Students react to President Ryan signing national letter defending higher education (article)
May 1, 2025: EDITORIAL: We can demand more of our university presidents (article)
June 5, 2025: VEGA: In defense of President Jim Ryan (article)
June 27, 2025: U.Va. President Jim Ryan announces his resignation (article)
June 28, 2025: Charlottesville community protests University President Jim Ryan’s resignation (article)
June 28, 2025: ‘This is not what students want’: Students react to Ryan’s resignation (article)
June 28, 2025: MICHAELSON: U.Va. must not surrender to authoritarian pressure (article)
June 28, 2025: BARRETT: President Ryan’s forced resignation jeopardizes the future of U.Va. (article)
June 28, 2025: EDITORIAL: Federal overreach will not end with President Ryan (article)
June 29, 2025: University and Charlottesville community members Run For Jim one last time (article)
June 29, 2025: “We intend to stand up and fight”: Virginian politicians on Ryan’s departure (article)
June 29, 2025: U.Va. Medical Students: Defend academic freedom (article)
June 30, 2025: Student reactions to Ryan’s resignation (article)
June 30, 2025: Jennifer Wagner Davis to serve as acting University president (article)
July 1, 2025: Faculty members express deep concern over President Ryan’s resignation (article)
July 1, 2025: Letters from DOJ reveal threats to U.Va. over admissions policies, Ryan’s leadership (article)
July 3, 2025: ‘This is not the Virginia way’: U.Va. alumni respond to President Ryan’s resignation (article)
July 5, 2025: Following Ryan’s resignation, faculty gather to discuss next steps (article)
July 7, 2025: Ryan’s resignation marks a ‘turning point’ for the Jefferson Council (article)
July 8, 2025: Virginia Senate threatens consequences if U.Va. Board chooses a new president (article)
July 9, 2025: Faculty discuss Ryan’s resignation at a United Campus Workers town hall (article)
July 10, 2025: A statement by 401 concerned faculty regarding the crisis of President Ryan’s forced resignation (article)
July 10, 2025: Student leaders weigh the future of self-governance after Ryan's departure (article)
July 12, 2025: U.Va. Faculty Senate overwhelmingly adopts a no confidence vote in Board of Visitors (article)
July 15, 2025: Sen. Tim Kaine speaks to U.Va. students, discusses Ryan resignation and more (article)
July 16, 2025: Letter from 12 deans to Board of Visitors goes unanswered for almost two weeks (article)
July 16, 2025: A statement by 40 Jewish faculty and staff on antisemitism and DEI at U.Va. (article)
July 17, 2025: Will the Faculty Senate’s no-confidence vote impact the U.Va. Board of Visitors? (article)
July 21, 2025: EDITORIAL: U.Va.’s path forward begins in the shadows of administrative silence (article)
July 21, 2025: Was Ryan ‘anti-Jeffersonian?’ Historians weigh in after his resignation (article)
July 22, 2025: Letters to the Editor: The resignation of University President Jim Ryan (article)
July 23, 2025: Following Ryan’s resignation, students flocked to Midsummers for reconnection (article)
July 24, 2025: A look at Ryan’s presidential employment contract (article)
July 28, 2025: Following Ryan’s resignation, community initiatives remain in limbo (article)
July 29, 2025: Jim Ryan shared a ‘special relationship’ with his sports programs (article)
July 31, 2025: Weighing their place in U.Va. presidential search, students hope for leader with integrity (article)
Aug. 2, 2025: Virginia General Assembly demands answers about Ryan's resignation in Aug. 1 letter (article)
Aug. 5, 2025: Two university presidents under pressure — one resigned, one got a raise (article)
Aug. 6, 2025: A statement of no confidence in the Board of Visitors by 141 retired U.Va. faculty (article)
Aug. 6, 2025: BRUNMAN: Board of Visitors, where is your humanity? (article)
Aug. 8, 2025: Student Council passes vote of no confidence in the Board of Visitors (article)
Aug. 9, 2025: CARTER: Alumni should not be running the show (article)
Aug. 12, 2025: Will Ryan’s resignation impact the University’s reaccreditation? (article)
Aug. 16, 2025: GOLDBLATT, LEVY, WILLIAMS: What does it mean for U.Va. to follow the advice of legal counsel? (article)
Aug. 17, 2025: A statement of no confidence in the Board of Visitors by the U.Va. Chapter of the AAUP (article)

Finn Trainer and Clara Franklin are The Cavalier Daily’s archivists. They can be reached at archivist@cavalierdaily.com.

Archivist Report on Jim Ryan

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