The Cavalier Daily asked University leaders and faculty from across Grounds — deans, executive administrators and governing members — to weigh in on the University’s institutional stability one year after former University President Jim Ryan’s announcement of his resignation June 27, 2025. The Cavalier Daily asked these leaders how events from the past year have shaped the University, influenced its future direction and revealed characteristics that define it.
University leaders and faculty members at large expressed cautious optimism. They reflected on the strength of Ryan’s leadership, a couple characterizing his departure as premature. They spoke on the importance of adhering to the University’s mission — strong academics, research, patient care and service to the Commonwealth — in challenging times and resiliently working through the instability of the last year by chipping forward on this purpose.
Ryan announced his resignation June 27, 2025. In an email to the University community, he said staying in his role would put the University at risk of federal consequences, including cuts to research funding, student financial aid and student visas.
His decision followed a pressured campaign from the federal government — the U.S. Department of Justice was conducting an ongoing investigation at the time of Ryan’s departure into his leadership and alleged refusal to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programming. After Ryan stepped down from his role, Jennifer Wagner Davis, executive vice president and chief operating officer, served as acting University president until the Board of Visitors announced that Paul Mahoney, former dean of the School of Law, would serve as the University’s interim president Aug. 4.
During Mahoney’s tenure, the University reached an agreement Oct. 22 with the Justice Department to have the remaining five federal investigations suspended in exchange for compliance with all civil rights law. Also during Mahoney’s time as interim president, the University rejected the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” Oct. 17.
Throughout Mahoney’s tenure, the University’s Board searched for the next permanent University president — a process various University-affiliated groups publicly criticized due to its alleged lack of transparency and community input. Nonetheless, the Board appointed University President Scott Beardsley Dec. 19.
The Board has centered its early efforts in the spring semester and summer around regaining community trust and working towards the University’s key mission areas to navigate through the uncertainties of the past year. In a similar vein, Beardsley launched his “Grounds for Conversation” initiative, hoping to gain faculty and administrative input to shape his leadership goals.
After Beardsley’s first semester in office and as leaders across Grounds have begun adjusting to the new realities, faculty and administrators have recognized the University’s last year was a challenge. They recognized that the events of the last year will be etched in University history, and their response as leaders to these events is imperative to creating a stronger future.
Residual soreness around Ryan’s resignation, a recognition of his administration’s successes
Many University leaders and faculty spoke to the success of University leadership prior to June 27, 2025. Faculty and administrators said Ryan’s leadership profoundly shaped the University, and his sudden departure is still a tender wound. Ian Solomon, dean of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, said this lingering pain affects both the University and the higher education landscape writ large.
“The nature and timing of Jim’s departure from the presidency at U.Va. remains a scar that has not fully healed — not only for Virginia, but across higher education,” Solomon wrote.
Ryan, selected as the 2026 Valedictory Exercises speaker by the student-composed Fourth-Year Trustees and long admired for hosting “Run with Jim” events, received an outpouring of empathy following his resignation. Vice Provost for Enrollment Stephen Farmer reflected fondly upon the successes of Ryan’s leadership.
“I’ll always be grateful to have worked for President Ryan and with his remarkable team. Their wisdom, good will and care for students and colleagues were inspiring to me,” Farmer wrote.
Lingering trust and governance concerns, especially among faculty
Many leaders addressed that the institutional instability of the last year and its aftereffects linger. Trust and strong governance will have to be worked for and proven, according to many leaders.
To address these qualms with the past and remaining concern of unsteady leadership, Board Rector Carlos Brown wrote in a statement to The Cavalier Daily that the Board is working to improve University governance in its capacity.
“Despite failures in transparency and good governance and the loss of a generational transformational leader, Jim Ryan, far earlier than it should have occurred, we are rebuilding trust and putting in safeguards to prevent those failures from repeating themselves,” Brown wrote.
Over the last year, the Faculty Senate has spoken out against governance actions by University bodies. It issued a vote of no confidence in the Board July 11, and leading up to Beardsley’s appointment, the Faculty Senate issued a resolution Nov. 14 calling for adequate Board leadership and a pause in the presidential search and the resignation of then-Rector Rachel Sheridan and then-Vice Rector Porter Wilkinson. Last, it issued a Jan. 15 resolution expressing dissatisfaction in the continued governance crisis at the University, among others since Ryan’s resignation.
Jeri Seidman, incoming faculty representative to the Board, outgoing Faculty Senate chair and associate professor of commerce, wrote this misalignment between the Faculty Senate and University governance makes for shaky bridges of trust moving forward.
“Faculty seem more cautious than they were 15 months ago,” Seidman wrote. “There was a significant breach of trust, so this is not surprising, and without a clear understanding of what happened or reforms to protect against it happening again, it's hard for some people to regain confidence.”
Seidman noted the University cannot afford to allow this distrust to stop it from making strides in current issues facing higher education, including its response to developments in artificial intelligence, athletics, shifting student enrollments and changing research funding.
“With a faculty that is understandably apprehensive about both the administration and the Board of Visitors, I hope U.Va. isn’t at a disadvantage because these relationships are still fragile at a time when collaboration and trust will be essential,” Seidman wrote.
Resilience amid challenges, and the unity that followed
Faculty and leaders consistently spoke on the resilience — at the individual and University-wide level — that pushed the University through the year riddled with unprecedented challenges.
Brown — whose term began Feb. 20 — said these challenges are inevitable in “great” institutions. He spoke on the unity that resulted from these trials.
"Notwithstanding the challenges that we faced in the last 12 months, the University remains resilient and strong,” Brown wrote. “Every great institution experiences fractures and threats to its purpose, mission and values. However, great institutions respond by coming together to resist those threats and reaffirm their values. That is what U.Va. is doing.”
Dr. Mitch Rosner, U.Va. Health chief executive officer and executive vice president for health affairs, also did not shy away from labeling the past 12 months as challenging. Similar to Brown, he expressed hopefulness that the University will come out stronger.
“There is no doubt that the past year has been unsettling, but I am very optimistic that we will use the lessons of the past year to make U.Va. stronger, more vital and ready to meet the headwinds that we face,” Rosner wrote.
Rosner touched on the resilience muscle the University grew, which is a point that Melissa Lubin, dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, emphasized.
“Over the past year, I have seen the University of Virginia respond to a period of profound change with resilience, compassion and a strong sense of shared purpose,” Lubin wrote. “At the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, that spirit is evident in the optimism and determination of our adult learners, faculty and staff.”
Kenyon Bonner, vice president and chief student affairs officer, referenced these surviving qualities of resilience, commitment and advocacy at large, pointing to them as the constant “through periods of challenge and change.”
Leaders repeatedly touched on the theme of unity — amidst change, the community aligned towards the common mission of perpetuating academic excellence. Seidman wrote that she hopes this unity, including many individual bonds born from the challenges, will last past this year.
“The past year brought faculty, staff and student leaders together in ways we had not seen before,” Seidman wrote. “Some of these connections will likely fade over time, but I hope at least some of them … endure.”
Brie Gertler, interim executive vice president and provost, also touched on the impact of individual connections and resulting unity. She emphasized the work of deans in promoting the University’s purpose in times of challenge.
“The months that followed showed that we could move through uncertainty together,” Gertler wrote. “I am especially grateful to the deans, who guided their schools through that period with dedication and an unwavering clarity of purpose.”
Looking forward — optimism in pursuing the University’s mission
Key to the University’s past and future success is allegiance to its mission, many faculty and University leaders expressed. The University’s mission statement asserts that the “discovery, innovation and development of the full potential of talented students from all walks of life” drives the University. Additionally, it says the University serves the Commonwealth, the U.S. and the world in developing citizen leaders, advancing, preserving and disseminating knowledge and providing patient care.
Beardsley wrote this mission has thrived and sustained the University through the challenging year, acting as a roadmap for all the University does.
“When an institution navigates a season of transition, the ultimate anchor is always its core mission,” Beardsley wrote. “That mission is clear and non-negotiable — world-class education, exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research and discovery and a profound commitment to public service.”
Bonner echoed Beardsley’s commitment to the core mission and harped on the importance of community.
“I am inspired by our resilience, our deep commitment to community — including the care and respect we show for each other — our passionate advocacy for U.Va.’s traditions and values and our grounded optimism for our shared future,” Bonner wrote.
Jim Lambert, outgoing faculty representative to the Board and engineering professor, had a unique perspective working both in Board governance and as a faculty member for the 2025-26 academic year. Lambert said his appreciation grew over the past year for the community of individuals driving the University’s mission. Lambert, in his written statement, listed all of the facets that come together to run the University, including the health system, arts programming, the College at Wise, international offerings and more.
Lambert reflected on the success of the year — University programming’s impacts are vast, and these impacts did not halt during the 2025-26 academic year.
“The University projects the Commonwealth of Virginia into roles that are saving the world. In part, what we learned this year is that U.Va.’s success is from principles of discovery, respect and service,” Lambert wrote.
Building off of his statement recognizing the still-open wound of Ryan’s departure, Solomon wrote the systems Ryan set in place help the University in its future. He harkened back to Ryan’s Great and Good 2030 Plan for the University, which pins the University’s mission in its values of service, knowledge and patient care.
“The leadership team of deans and senior administrators that Jim Ryan built and inspired continues to work tirelessly to make U.Va. both great and good in all we do,” Solomon wrote.
Lubin held two ideas in tandem — recognizing the loss of Ryan whilst moving forward with a commitment to the University.
“Together, we honor what has been lost and learned and move forward with renewed energy, deep connection and confidence in the University’s future,” Lubin wrote.
Jennifer West, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Saunders Family professor of engineering, referenced the driving mission pillar of student experience while also expressing enthusiasm for the future.
“While this has been an eventful year for U.Va. leadership, in Engineering, we have kept our focus on our mission of Engineering for the greater good and providing an excellent student experience that maximizes their success,” West wrote. “We are excited about great things coming in the years ahead.”
In the vein of moving forward while remembering the past, Brown wrote that it will be a community effort to “be better on the other side of this.”
Community, a repeated theme from faculty and University leaders, is the value Rosner ended his statement with.
“[The last year] has forced us to refocus on our missions and what makes U.Va. great — our people and culture,” Rosner wrote. “In doing so, I think we have moved out of a period of instability and uncertainty to a time of more strategic thinking of how U.Va. needs to adapt to the changes around us, but at the same time stay true to our mission and values.”
Grace Little is a news editor for the 137th term. She is a third-year student from Dallas, Texas majoring in Neuroscience and the Interdisciplinary Major in Public Policy, Politics and Media Studies. She enjoys writing about the shifting landscape of higher education.
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