An overview of University administration changes since Class of 2026’s arrival

University administration has seen several major changes in the past few years, including, but not limited to, the roles of president, provost, vice president and chief Student Affairs officer, senior associate vice president and dean of students.

A formal search committee conducted the vast majority of the searches. Many changes directly affect undergraduate students, such as the changes in the role of the president, provost, chief Student Affairs officer and dean of students. Other notable changes that significantly impact University functions occurred within the U.Va. Health system.

Here is a look at notable University administrative changes affecting all 12 schools and the University’s health system. The graduating Class of 2026 witnessed these changes during their time at the University, with many changes occurring during the latter portion of their college careers.

President

Former University President Jim Ryan announced his resignation June 27 after serving in the role since 2018. The announcement came in the wake of an 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.

In a letter Ryan sent to the Faculty Senate Nov. 14, he wrote that he was told by former Rector of the Board of Visitors Rachel Sheridan and former Vice Rector Porter Wilkinson that the Justice Department attorneys demanded his resignation by 5 p.m. June 26. Otherwise, he was told “the [Justice Department] would basically rain hell on U.Va.,” according to his letter. In her own letter to the Faculty Senate, Sheridan disagreed with Ryan’s claim that she told him to resign, instead writing that it was Ryan who first suggested the idea of his resignation. Sheridan also denied any demands for Ryan’s resignation made on behalf of the Board as a whole.

The University then announced a search committee for a new president July 25, which was chaired by Sheridan. While the search was in progress, the Board appointed Paul Mahoney, former dean of the School of Law, as interim president Aug. 4.

Mahoney served in the role until current University President Scott Beardsley, former dean of the Darden School of Business, was appointed unanimously by the Board Dec. 19. Beardsley’s tenure began Jan. 1.

Prior to Beardsley’s appointment, several University-affiliated groups — including Wahoos4UVA, Student Council and the Faculty Senate — expressed their lack of confidence in the Board to conduct a thorough presidential search free from federal influence.

Many University groups found the nature of the search for Beardsley, especially given Ryan’s recent departure, controversial. Jeri Seidman, outgoing Faculty Senate chair and incoming faculty representative to the Board, said that she was disappointed by the Board’s decision to select a new President amidst calls from multiple University stakeholders to wait until after Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) took office in January. Spanberger argued that at the time of Beardsley’s appointment, the Board had five members that had not been officially confirmed by the Virginia General Assembly, as Virginia law requires, and was thus not legally constituted.

In the months after Beardsley’s appointment, some University groups began speaking out against the process leading to Beardsley’s appointment. Among them, the University chapter of the American Association of University Professors expressed their disapproval of Beardsley’s selection — suggesting that the processes by which he was selected by the Board were illegitimate and that Beardsley’s credentials were not up to par with the University’s former presidents.

U.Va. Health

The University has seen major changes within the health system in the past two years. Craig Kent, former CEO of U.Va. Health and executive vice president for health affairs, and Melina Kibbe, former dean of the School of Medicine and chief health affairs officer at U.Va. Health, left their positions after they were named in a faculty letter of no confidence. The letter — sent to the rector and Board Sept. 5, 2024 and signed by 128 physicians — alleged Kent and Kibbe fostered a hostile environment that compromised patient safety and led to an ongoing exodus of expertise.

Kent resigned from his position in February 2025 after an independent review by Williams and Connolly. Kibbe did not resign immediately after the review, but later announced she left her position in July to become president of University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

University Medical Center CEO Wendy Horton also announced her departure in July, and left the health system in September to accept a new position as senior vice president and president of adult services at University of California, San Francisco Health. Horton was not named in the same letter of no confidence as Kent and Kibbe, but was later named in an ongoing lawsuit filed Oct. 3. The Oct. 3 lawsuit was brought by several U.Va. Health leaders and the spouses of two patients who died against defendants Kent, Kibbe, Horton and other physicians for leading illegal efforts to increase revenue.

U.Va. Health announced in September 2025 that Dr. Mitchell Rosner had been appointed to a three-year term as the new CEO of U.Va. Health. Rosner had previously held several positions at U.Va. Health, and had served as interim executive vice president for health affairs for seven months prior to his appointment.

The University had initially intended to select the next CEO after a nationwide search, but after several U.Va. Health leaders sent a letter to Mahoney and Sheridan recommending Rosner for the role, the rector and the Board decided to stop the search and name Rosner to the position.

“During his brief tenure as Interim EVP for Health Affairs, Dr. Rosner has gained and fostered the trust and respect of our faculty and lent much needed stability to a tumultuous period for U.Va. Health,” the “more than two dozen chairs and leaders at U.Va. Health” wrote in the letter.

The positions of the dean of the school of medicine and the CEO of the University Medical Center have yet to be permanently filled. The University Health System announced the appointment of Colin Derdeyn as interim dean of the school of medicine early August, and Terrie Edwards as interim CEO of the University Medical Center Sept. 9. The University announced Tuesday that Kathy Baker, current chief nursing officer of the University Medical Center, will be replacing Edwards in the role of interim CEO of the University Medical Center, effective May 23.

Executive vice president and provost

The role of the executive vice president and provost of the University involves close collaboration with the University president and overseeing a variety of activities within the University, such as teaching and research.

Since spring of 2025, there have been two unsuccessful provost searches.

Ian Baucom, former University executive vice president and provost, announced his resignation in January 2025 after being named president of Middlebury College. Brie Gertler has served as interim executive vice president and provost since his departure, and the first search committee was announced Feb. 6 2025, following Baucom’s resignation.

While it is still unclear why the first search was inconclusive, several sources told The Cavalier Daily that the search had been “highly unusual.” The sources cited actions by Wilkinson, saying that she “implicitly vetoed” one of the leading candidates from being presented to Ryan.

The University told the community of the search’s failure Sept. 9, but did not provide an explanation for the failure.

The second search committee was launched in September 2025, with Beardsley as chair. Beardsley then announced in a message to the search committee Jan. 14 that he would be stepping down as chair due to his new responsibilities as president, and expressed his hope that the new provost would be selected in March.

“It is hoped that a provost can be selected by March 2026, largely in line with the process timeline outlined in the Fall,” Beardsley wrote.

However, the second search ultimately proved to be unsuccessful. University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover announced in a media release March 25 that the University would be pausing the search. The media release said Beardsley wrote a letter to the search committee, writing that the pause was a result of changes to University leadership and changes to the composition of the Board. In the months prior to the pause, Spanberger requested the resignations of five Board members in January and subsequently appointed 10 new members. Beardsley added that the University will recommence the search with a new search committee.

“This is a difficult decision, but I believe it will help us achieve a better outcome in the long term, ensure institutional stability and continue building trust in our community,” Beardsley said in the letter to the committee.

Dean of students

Nicole Hall began her role as senior associate vice president and dean of students March 2025, replacing former Interim Dean Cedric Rucker, who retired March 2025.

Hall was chosen via a search by an executive search committee tasked with finding a replacement for the role, which included eight faculty members and two student representatives.

The role of the dean of students is primarily that of a liaison between the University leadership and students, as well as an advocate of student self-governance. The dean reports to the vice president and chief Student Affairs officer.

Hall has served in the role since March 2025, and she outlined her priorities to The Cavalier Daily at the beginning of her term, including supporting student self-governance and creating deeper connections with the student body.

“I think student self-governance at U.Va. is a very unique and compelling model for student development,” Hall said. “So I want to do everything that I can, to continue to support and to really build upon and enhance with them in partnership.”

Vice president and chief Student Affairs officer

The vice president and chief Student Affairs officer oversees several offices within the University, including the Office of the Dean of Students, the Department of Student Health, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Office of African-American Affairs and the University Career Center. The vice president and chief Student Affairs officer also reports to the president and provost, and helps shape students' educational and residential experience.

Kenyon Bonner, formerly a vice provost at the University of Pittsburgh, was appointed University vice president and chief Student Affairs officer in November 2023, and has served in the position since January 2024. He replaced Chris Holstege, interim vice president and chief of Student Affairs, who left the role in 2023 to return to his position as senior associate vice president of Student Health and Wellness.

Upon Bonner’s appointment, Ryan remarked in a 2023 University media release positively on Bonner’s fit for the role.

“He’s as kind and genuine as he is talented, and I’ve been impressed by his appreciation for what makes U.Va. special,” Ryan said.

Bonner leads roughly 300 student affairs faculty and staff who focus on different aspects of the student experience on Grounds. Bonner also oversees student governance organizations, such as Student Council, the Honor Committee and the University Judiciary Committee.

An overview of University administration changes since Class of 2026’s arrival

The past several years have seen significant changes in University leadership — including for the University president and provost

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