CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The search for the University of Virginia’s 10th president will officially begin later this month or in early September, will include the retention of an external search firm and is expected to last 4-6 months, this according to a presentation at Monday morning’s Board of Visitors special meeting at the Boar’s Head Resort.
The board, meeting for the first time under new rector Rachel Sheridan and vice-rector Porter Wilkinson, spent just under an hour in public session before moving to a private session to consider, among other things, the school’s interim president.
A presentation by UVA executive vice president and chief operating officer John Kosky and Catherine Lindqvist, the executive director of the executive search group, first outlined the process of the search for an interim president, one that included seven listening sessions in July with faculty, staff, students and community members.
“I think we heard a very strong and consistent message,” Kosky said.
The nomination process for an interim president ran from July 15-25 and resulted in 599 nominations. A total of 143 candidates were nominated, with five people receiving 30 or more nominations.
The presentation then moved into the search for a permanent replacement for Jim Ryan, who resigned in July under pressure from the Trump Administration.
Lindqvist said the rector has named a 28-person search committee, which includes three students. She said a first meeting of that committee has not yet been scheduled but will happen later this month or early next month.
“It’s a committee that represents most university constituencies,” Lindqvist said.
She said the committee is in the process of hiring an external search firm to assist the search.
Earlier in the meeting, Sheridan took a moment to thank Ryan, who took over as president in 2018, for his work at the university.
“UVA owes him a considerable debt of thanks for his service and dedication to this great institution,” she said, sharing that Ryan had sent her a note when she was named rector which, in part, warned of the challenges of becoming a public figure.
Sheridan also addressed complaints about the board’s perceived lack of transparency.
“People care deeply about this university and that is something this board respects,” she said. “While the board cannot always speak publicly about sensitive matters, that does not mean we are not listening closely.”
Wilkinson also praised outgoing board secretary Susan Harris, a UVA law graduate, became the 19th secretary for the Board of Visitors in May 2009. She is stepping aside on Aug. 15.
“Put simply, the Board of Visitors could not function without Susan’s expert guidance, wise council and extremely hard work,” Wilkinson said.
Just about 10 a.m. the board moved into private session to discuss, among other things, federal investigations and candidates for interim president and secretary to the Board of Visitors.
