The University’s Board of Visitors met in a special meeting Friday and officially appointed Scott Beardsley, current dean of the Darden School of Business, as the University’s 10th president. A group of University employees — composed primarily of members of the University’s chapters of the American Association of University Professors and United Campus Workers of Virginia — protested outside prior to the meeting’s start, chanting for the search’s halt due to what they called a shameful process.
Friday’s protests followed intense controversy regarding the timeline of the appointment. Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger had previously called on the Board to hold off on appointing a president until she takes office Jan. 17. The University’s Faculty Senate, the Student Council and nine out of 14 University’s academic deans issued similar calls for the search to be delayed. Many of these groups have raised concerns regarding the composition of the Board by referencing Virginia law which requires 12 of the 17 Board members to be Virginia residents and alumni of the University. Currently, the Board has nine Virginia residents and nine alumni of the University.
Upon Beardsley’s appointment, he acknowledged the uncertain climate and context in which he will assume office, given such calls from community members and politicians to delay a presidential appointment. However, Beardsley maintained that his appointment was apolitical.
“These are high-tension times for this University and higher education,” Beardsley said. “I want every one of you here today to know that I stand before you as a mission-driven leader … not a politically-driven leader … This is a moment to move beyond division, to renew trust and to focus on what unites us.”
One of the protesters, Susan Fraiman, AAUP member and English professor, expressed opposition to the Board appointing a new president Friday. She said there have been multiple University issues that have concerned her, beginning with the resignation of former University President Jim Ryan June 27. According to Fraiman, another point of concern is what she called the illegitimacy of the presidential search.
“[As] the Dean’s letter [expressed] … anyone who is appointed [today] would have no legitimacy,” Fraiman said. “They would begin their tenure under a cloud. They would not have the confidence of the community. They would not be able to lead effectively.”
Despite Friday’s protesters calling for the Board to delay the appointment of a president, Board Rector Rachel Sheridan emphasized Beardsley’s qualifications for the role.
”Scott Beardsley rose to the top of an exceptionally strong, competitive pool,” Sheridan said. “[The Search] Committee … and Board members alike were struck by his ability to engage across disciplines, to listen carefully [and] to articulate a thoughtful, forward-looking vision for the University.”
Beardsley recalled learning of his nomination late in the summer, at which point he told the search firm that he was willing to be considered for the role. After the pool was narrowed, Beardsley said he partook in an off-Grounds interview in Washington, D.C. with the search committee, which he described as a “true grilling.” Following subsequent meetings and his recommendation to the Board as one of the finalists, Beardsley said he was abruptly called by Sheridan and informed of his selection, who asked him to be on Grounds Thursday — the day prior to his appointment.
According to Beardsley, the appointment process he experienced was conducted with rigor.
“I can't tell you how honored, humbled and grateful I am to be selected as the 10th president of the University of Virginia,” Beardsley said. “I can assure you that the process was incredibly rigorous and thorough. I went through it, I know.”
Beardsley thanked his two immediate predecessors — Interim President Paul Mahoney and Ryan — for their dedication to the University. He additionally said he looks forward to working with both Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Spanberger to support the University community.
Prior to the official announcement regarding Beardsley’s appointment, the Board’s deliberations were almost entirely conducted in closed session Friday. Within one minute of the meeting’s start, Sheridan announced the Board would be going into closed session. Protesters hissed loudly upon Sheridan’s calling of the closed session, saying, “disgraceful,” “shame, honest shame” and “great public service.”
With the call for a closed session, all protesters were led out of the building. One of these individuals, graduate Arts & Sciences student Connor McDermott, said he chose to attend Friday’s meeting to speak out against what he characterized as the Board’s lack of diversity in political viewpoints.
”I am here because [of] the lack of democratic representation,” McDermott said. “The fact that these are all … MAGA political appointees make it so we cannot trust anything that this Board does. They are not acting in our interest as students.”
After Beardsley concluded his initial remarks, the media was taken to a separate location for an impromptu press conference. The University Communications team said the conference was an attempt to ensure he was immediately accessible to answer questions.
Beardsley was first asked why he accepted the position despite the many calls from stakeholders for the Board to delay the appointment until January. In response, he said he knew many stakeholders, including Faculty Senate members and University deans, and would work with them during his time in office. When asked why he did not wait to accept the position until next month, Beardsley said this was not an option.
“You have the choice of [whether] to accept or not accept,” Beardsley said. “I felt that the best thing to do is to serve the University [I’ve been] working at for the last 11 years to try and move forward.”
Beardsley will be taking office under the agreement Mahoney signed with the Justice Department to suspend five investigations into the University on the condition of compliance with the Justice Department’s interpretation of civil rights law. Regarding this agreement with the Justice Department, Beardsley said he had no plans to change course from Mahoney’s administration.
Finally, Beardsley was asked to note his priorities as University president. According to Beardsley, his priorities are focused on unifying the University community.
”I don’t think I can stop all forms of division, but I like to focus on ‘what do people share in common?’” Beardsley said. “One thing I’m quite certain of is that people love this University.”
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