University of Virginia – Resignation of President James Ryan

On June 27, 2025, University of Virginia President James E. Ryan announced his resignation, citing pressure from the federal government and the risk that resisting it would jeopardize the university’s research funding and student support. In a public statement, Ryan said he could not, in good conscience, “make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government on behalf of the university.” His decision came in the wake of a civil rights investigation launched by the Trump administration into UVA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. Ryan’s departure marked the first time a university president stepped down as a direct result of federal pressure tied to the administration’s campaign against DEI.

The conflict leading to Ryan’s resignation had been building for months. In March, UVA’s Board of Visitors voted to dismantle the university’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a move that aligned with state and federal criticism of DEI programs. However, federal officials claimed that UVA had simply renamed DEI functions and continued to operate unlawful race- and sex-based initiatives. Over the spring and early summer, the Department of Justice sent four increasingly forceful letters alleging noncompliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. In a June 17 letter, the DOJ warned that the university’s continued practices could result in the loss of federal funding. Days later, Ryan announced his resignation, making clear that UVA’s legal position had become untenable.

After Ryan’s departure was announced, reactions from faculty, lawmakers, and the broader academic community came swiftly. Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine criticized the move as political overreach, and state Democrats warned that it reflected a dangerous politicization of public higher education. Faculty at UVA, caught off guard by the announcement, demanded transparency from the Board of Visitors, which had not publicly disclosed its role in Ryan’s decision. Many faculty drew comparisons to the 2012 ouster and reinstatement of then-president Teresa Sullivan, and some called for similar pushback. The Faculty Senate set a July deadline for the Board to explain its actions and reaffirm its commitment to shared governance.

In the wake of Ryan’s resignation, the Board appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer “J.J.” Wagner Davis as interim president. Faculty leaders emphasized the need for a transparent, inclusive search process for Ryan’s permanent replacement, and for structural reforms to limit political influence in university leadership decisions.