Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Uva Leadership Search topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
UVA leadership change and search process draw questions as new president pledges listening and access
Summary
New University of Virginia president Scott Beardsley pledged to rebuild trust, prioritize access and innovation during a Senate subcommittee appearance as Rector Rachel Sheridan defended the board's unanimous search process and the choice to proceed before the body was fully constituted.
Scott Beardsley, who became the University of Virginia's tenth president on Jan. 1, told a Virginia Senate subcommittee he will prioritize access, human-centered innovation and rebuilding trust after a contested presidential search. "I am committed a 100% to supporting UVA's students, faculty, staff, and health care providers," Beardsley said in opening remarks to the education subcommittee.
Rector Rachel Sheridan told senators the board retained search firm IsaacsonMiller, convened a large and diverse search committee, conducted more than 40 listening sessions and unanimously recommended four finalists. Sheridan said the committee's process produced a candidate the board judged best able to stabilize the university. "We retained Isaacson Miller, the leading search firm in higher education," Sheridan said, and the board's deliberations were guided by legal advice about what actions were permitted when the board was not fully seated.
Senators pressed both leaders about timing and outside influence. Committee members noted that the Board of Visitors has 17 seats but currently 12 members, and that a quorum is five. Sheridan said the board sought legal guidance and concluded it could act without waiting for every seat to be filled because leadership continuity was urgent for a $6,000,000,000 organization and to protect the university's credit rating.
Lawmakers repeatedly raised concerns about whether the board should have paused the search at the request of faculty and the governor-elect. Senator Hashmi asked how Beardsley planned to rebuild trust after community calls to delay the process; Beardsley said he would "earn it" through listening and follow-through. Senator Deese cited press reports questioning the search and asked whether UVA had reduced emphasis on diversity; Beardsley said he had led diversity initiatives at Darden and emphasized his commitment to a diverse student body.
The subcommittee also asked about the university's legal compliance on diversity planning under the Code of Virginia. In response to a question about §2.2-602, Sheridan said the board intends to comply with both federal and state law and implement appropriate plans.
No formal actions or votes were taken during the hearing. The subcommittee closed after members questioned the presidents from George Mason and VCU on separate items.
The subcommittee did not set any next steps on the search itself during the hearing; senators asked for additional documents referenced during questioning and conversation about texts and communications related to the search.
