Overview
- Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger asked UVA’s Board of Visitors to refrain from naming finalists or a president until she can appoint members in January and the General Assembly confirms them.
- Her letter argues the board is not fully constituted after five Youngkin appointees failed to win Senate confirmation, with a related appointments dispute now before the Virginia Supreme Court.
- UVA spokesperson Brian Coy said university leaders are reviewing the request and are ready to engage with the governor-elect.
- The search committee had narrowed a field of more than 60 candidates and planned in-person interviews later this month before the pause was requested.
- The request comes after Jim Ryan’s early departure during DOJ scrutiny of DEI practices and an October agreement to close investigations by 2028, with faculty and student no-confidence votes and partisan reactions shaping the debate.