Former University of Virginia President Jim Ryan has broken silence on his sudden resignation, accusing the Board of Visitors of dishonesty and collusion in his ouster amid a federal review of the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
Ryan wrote in a 12-page letter to the UVA Faculty Senate on Friday that he was “shocked and outraged” by the board’s lack of honesty as the board faced federal pressure to resign over its alleged failure to repeal DEI programs. Ryan also wrote that recent letters from UVA Chancellor Rachel Sheridan and Gov. Glenn Youngkin did not “accurately describe the circumstances of my resignation,” prompting him to issue his own statement.
Ryan accused Youngkin of playing a major role in attracting Justice Department scrutiny by first submitting to the board a resolution drafted by his office that was “quite comprehensive and filled with inflammatory rhetoric” criticizing DEI. Ryan wrote that the board passed a modified version of the resolution that was “rather mild” and required UVA to disband its DEI office and “move all permitted programs to another institutional location.”
But after the bill passed, Youngkin went on Fox News and declared that “DEI is dead” at UVA. Ryan wrote that the announcement created confusion and exaggerated the scope of the resolution. When UVA began working to implement the resolution, Ryan wrote, Sheridan told him not to publicly announce any DEI changes, which he claimed would create the impression of inaction and draw the attention of the Department of Justice.
Ryan wrote that UVA quickly received inquiries about why dismantling the DEI had been slow.
“The letter asks us to explain why we have not complied with the board’s resolution, even though it exaggerates the scope and nature of the resolution and suggests — as Governor Younkin did on television — that we should eliminate DEI as a whole,” Ryan wrote. “It was unclear, and remains unclear, why the U.S. Department of Justice had an interest or authority to enforce state university board of trustees resolutions rather than enforce federal law.”
Ryan also questioned whether the board’s message that the Justice Department was seeking his resignation was true or if it was a plan concocted by members who wanted to oust him as relations soured.
Ryan concluded his letter by saying he is committed to complying with the law and modifying flawed policies and practices or “if there are compelling, principled reasons to change course.” But he would not sacrifice the University of Virginia’s core values or principles to do so — especially if the changes were due to “prevailing political winds” or “the political ambitions of some individuals,” he wrote. He added that board members and the governor’s office have accused him of being stubborn, which may be true and may be the real reason for his exit.
“But being stubborn and principled often look the same, especially to those who are unprincipled,” Ryan writes.
Inside higher education Ryan’s full letter has been uploaded below.
Ryan’s letter follows a message Sheridan sent to the University of Virginia Faculty Senate on Thursday. In that letter, Sheridan downplayed federal pressure to force Ryan to step down. While she acknowledged that the Justice Department “lacks confidence in President Ryan making the changes the Trump administration believes are necessary to ensure compliance,” she disputed the notion that Ryan’s resignation was part of the university’s recent agreement with the federal government to suspend investigations into DEI practices.
While Sheridan did not detail the specific threats from the Justice Department, as Ryan did, she wrote that Trump administration officials “made clear that if the university does not chart a different course, the Justice Department can and will expand its investigation into other matters, scrutinize additional personnel, and seek to cut off federal funding.”
The full text of the letter is below.
Also on Thursday, Youngkin sent a letter related to Ryan’s departure to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger, who called on the University of Virginia to halt its ongoing presidential search until her board of trustees is filled. The Republican governor rejected claims by his Democratic successor that Ryan was ousted because of federal overreach and accused her of interfering in the search. Youngkin also accused Ryan of “not being committed to complying with federal law.”
The letter has been uploaded in full below.
The board is under attack
Ryan’s letter prompted a flurry of criticism of the board from teachers, lawmakers and others.
The University of Virginia Faculty Senate on Friday passed a resolution calling for greater transparency, a suspension of presidential candidates until the board is “completely complementary to those confirmed by the General Assembly,” and the immediate resignation of Sheridan and Vice Chancellor Porter Wilkinson.
Faculty and staff have accused the board of targeting the University of Virginia.
“The president, vice chancellor and other members of the Board of Trustees conspired to remove Jim Ryan, and they decided to use pressure from the Department of Justice to effect the removal,” Matthew Hedstrom, professor of religious studies, said at a Faculty Senate meeting on Friday.
Democratic state lawmakers also blasted the board in the wake of Ryan’s letter.
“The letter from former University of Virginia President Jim Ryan details egregious abuses of power by the University of Virginia Board of Trustees and collaboration between the Governor and the Governor. [attorney general] Virginia Senator and Democratic Majority Leader Scott Surovell wrote on X:
Surowell is among the latest Democratic lawmakers to step up pressure on UVA over Ryan’s resignation and subsequent deal with the Justice Department. Democrats this year blocked several Youngkin board appointments — many of them to Republican donors and conservative politicians — accusing the University of Virginia of lacking transparency on Ryan’s exit and succumbing to “blackmail tactics” in reaching a deal with the Justice Department.
Ross Mugler, interim president and CEO of the Association of Colleges and Universities, issued a statement in which he said, “What happened at UVA shows how serious the damage is when the Board of Governors becomes an extension of political actors rather than independent trustees.” Mugler also warned that external political pressure could cause damage to academic freedom, community trust and the long-term health of universities.
“President Ryan’s detailed account of the pressures that led to his resignation reveals a shocking example of political and ideological interference in university governance,” he wrote.
Neither UVA nor Youngkin’s office responded to requests for comment. Inside higher education.
