With most students at home and summer classes in session, Grounds may appear quieter during the summer. However, fewer people on Grounds does not always mean less action. Former University President Jim Ryan’s resignation drew attention from across the country, provoking varied responses from the Charlottesville community and beyond.
But Ryan’s resignation was not the only change that this past summer brought. Here is a timeline of the main events you might have missed this summer.
May
As students finished up final exams, graduates receiving doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees geared up for the University’s Finals Weekend. The weekend of events celebrating Class of 2025 took place May 16-18, including Valedictory Exercises Friday and Final Exercises Saturday and Sunday honoring the academic achievement of the graduates.
Ryan delivered a welcome address at the beginning of Final Exercises, expressing gratitude to not only the graduates but to their family members and friends for supporting them along their academic journey.
“No one makes it to graduation on their own,” Ryan said.
June
The University’s Board of Visitors held their regularly scheduled meetings of the Board June 4-6, where committees heard reports on University-wide fundraising progress and the full Board elected a new Rector and Vice Rector — Rachel Sheridan and Porter Wilkinson, respectively — whose terms began July 1.
The Board’s Advancement Committee heard a report June 5 which announced that the University’s Honor the Future campaign exceeded $6 billion in donations. The campaign began in 2019 and aims to financially support an environment where education, democracy and research can thrive. It initially had the fundraising goal of $5 billion, which it exceeded in December.
Later in the month, nine Virginia Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit against the rectors of three state universities June 24, including former University Board Rector Robert Hardie.
The lawsuit followed the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee’s vote to deny eight of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointees to three university boards. Among the denied appointees is Ken Cuccinelli, former Virginia Attorney General and Class of 1991 alumnus, who was appointed to the Board in March.
Following the vote, and at the direction of Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, the denied appointees continued to serve. Republicans argued that the Committee’s vote did not equate to a full General Assembly vote. Democrats disagreed, and brought the case to a Fairfax County Circuit Court.
Three days after the beginning of the political standoff over Youngkin’s appointees, former University president Jim Ryan announced his resignation June 27. The news immediately stirred various reactions from University students, faculty, alumni and the Charlottesville community.
Ryan’s resignation followed an ongoing investigation conducted by the Department of Justice into what they viewed as Ryan’s refusal to dismantle the University’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies.
“I am inclined to fight for what I believe in, and I believe deeply in this University. But I cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save my own job,” Ryan wrote in a statement to the University community June 27.
According to the New York Times, the Department of Justice threatened to take away hundreds of millions in research funding if Ryan did not resign.
Amongst the activity that Ryan’s resignation brought to Grounds, Facilities Management progressed in a few summer construction projects.
July
Over the course of July, the Class of 2029 as well as transfer students were welcomed on Grounds for new student orientation. At these sessions, students enrolled in classes, learned about resources such as Student Health and Wellness and the Career Center and attended information sessions specific to their academic interests.
About two weeks after Ryan’s resignation, the. Faculty Senate adopted a no-confidence vote in the Board at an emergency meeting July 11.
"The Faculty Senate expresses no confidence in the Board of Visitors for not protecting the University and its president from outside interference, and for not consulting with the Faculty Senate in a time of crisis, actions that are inconsistent with its duties under the Code of Virginia and the Board’s Statement of Visitor Responsibilities," faculty said in the resolution.
The University announced the search committee for a new president July 25 and is chaired by Rector Sheridan, with Vice Rector Wilkinson serving as vice chair. The committee contains 10 sitting Board members, including the faculty and student representatives.
The Virginia Senate Democrats lawsuit against the rectors of three state university boards was heard in a Fairfax County Court July 29, where the judge ruled that the eight appointees, including Cuccinelli, could no longer serve and must step down from their posts. The ruling, although preliminary, confirmed the Senate Privileges and Election Committee’s ability to deny gubernatorial appointees.
Miyares appealed the decision to the Virginia Supreme Court Aug. 11. The Virginia Supreme Court can either stay the injunction, solidifying Frieden’s decision, or overturn the decision, allowing the appointees to serve until the case is fully heard.
Another shift in University leadership occurred when two U.Va. Health senior leaders left their positions within a week. Melina Kibbe, dean of the School of Medicine and chief health affairs officer at U.Va. Health, and University Medical Center CEO Wendy Horton both left and accepted new positions in July.
August
At a special meeting Aug. 4, the Board announced the appointment of Paul Mahoney, the former dean of the School of Law between 2008 and 2016, as the University’s interim president. He will serve in this role until the search for a permanent president is completed.
“My immediate goal is to stabilize our affairs so that we can focus on our core mission of education, research, and patient care,” Mahoney said in a statement to the University community Aug. 11. “I look forward to working with this remarkable community to advance this great University.”
Still, in the wake of Ryan’s resignation, Student Council passed a resolution Aug. 8 declaring no confidence in the Board of Visitors. The resolution expressed frustration with the presidential search process, criticizing its lack of student representation.
The search committee met Friday to discuss the search process. At the meeting, they introduced Isaacson, Miller as the firm that will assist the committee in finding the University’s next president.
Looking Forward
Classes for the 2025-26 academic year begin Tuesday. As students continue to fill Grounds, the search for a new president will continue. The last committee for nominating a president met 17 times over the course of eight months before holding a final vote.
The Senate Democrats’ lawsuit will also be heard by the Virginia Supreme Court in the coming months, although there is not yet a set court date.
Read More
Presidential search committee holds first meeting, introduces search firm
By Cecilia Mould | YesterdayBoard of Visitors Rector Rachel Sheridan also introduced external search firm Isaacson, Miller, which will assist the committee in their search for the University’s next permanent president.
Archivist Report on Jim Ryan
By Finn Trainer and Clara Franklin | 2 days agoArchivists Finn Trainer and Clara Franklin recount Jim Ryan's tenure as the 9th President of the University.
Why did Student Council vote no confidence in the Board of Visitors?
By Lauren Seeliger | 4 days agoUltimately, Dickerson said during the Aug. 8 meeting that the decision to draft this resolution was not easy but was necessary so as to fulfill Student Council’s role.
