Virginia Military Institute board elects new president, approves vice presidents and executive committee changes

The Virginia Military Institute board elected a new president and approved a slate of vice presidents during a special meeting that included a closed session, board leaders said.

The board moved into closed session to discuss matters related to employment, appointment and evaluation of public officers and to consult legal counsel, citing provisions of the Virginia Code and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. After returning to open session, members certified that the closed meeting covered only matters authorized for exemption and voted to approve an officers' slate for the remainder of the academic year.

As chair of the advancement committee, the presiding officer moved the slate naming 'Colonel ****' as president; Mr. Williams, Mr. Johnson and the chair as vice presidents; and Mr. Hall as the non-alum executive committee member. The motion was seconded and the board approved the slate by show of hands, the chair said. The transcript does not include an exact vote tally; the chair stated the motion "carries by a majority."

Miss Todd told the board she was resigning her executive committee seat as the at-large non-alum member but said she would remain on the full board.

After being installed, the new board president thanked members and urged unity: "I believe very strongly in one team," the president said, adding that "a house divided against itself cannot stand," language he said guides the board's work.

The meeting concluded after the board confirmed the closed session certification and there was no other business; members adjourned and were told to return the following morning.

What matters next: the recorded actions from the meeting are limited to the certification of the closed session, the resignation from the executive committee and the election of the officer slate. The transcript does not record additional substantive debate or specific policy decisions tied to the closed session.