Virginia’s New Governor Moves Swiftly to Overhaul State University Boards
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger swiftly reshaped the University of Virginia's board by appointing 10 new members to the 17-member body immediately after her inauguration, also revamping boards of two other state schools.
- Spanberger requested five board members appointed by her predecessor, Glenn Youngkin, to resign amid ongoing partisan conflict over the university’s direction, particularly concerning diversity initiatives.
- The previous board, aligned with the Trump administration, had removed President James E. Ryan due to his support for diversity programs and later agreed to eliminate such programs under federal pressure, sparking faculty objections.
- Despite Spanberger's request for a delay, the Youngkin-appointed board replaced Ryan with Scott C. Beardsley before her inauguration, granting him a five-year
