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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – After walking into the Old Ivy Road building with some 70 protesters shouting “shame”, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors in a special meeting approved Darden School Dean Scott C. Beardsley as the University’s 10th President. He will begin his term on Jan. 1.
“This decision follows a comprehensive, five-month search process led by the Special Committee on the Nomination of a President that engaged extensively with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the UVA community,” a statement from the Board of Visitors read. “From a global search that yielded intense interest and over 100 nominations, the committee reviewed 27 candidates. At every stage, the focus remained on identifying a leader prepared to guide the University through a period of change while preserving the values and traditions that define UVA.”
Rector Rachel Sheridan before she announced Beardsley as President said to the Board and public gathered, “As the search progressed, one candidate consistently distinguished himself through depth of experience, clarity of vision, and demonstrated the ability to lead with steadiness and purpose.”
“Scott Beardsley rose to the top of an exceptionally strong, competitive pool.”
Beardsley addressed the board and the gathered public, calling it the “honor of my professional life to serve this university.” He called himself a “mission driven leader, not politically driven,” and believed all at UVA were united by one thing — “We all live UVA.”
His Darden School biography noted he was in a record third term as Dean and was set to serve in that position through 2028, as well as a chaired professor in Strategy, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship.
“An inspirational, optimistic and global innovator, builder, strategist and talent developer, Beardsley has lifted Darden to new heights,” the bio said.
The letter also praised Beardsley for his time as Dean of Darden, as well as his 26 years at McKinsey & Company prior to his arrival at UVA. There he served as the firm’s senior partner and was on its global board.
“The board was unanimous in its vote,” the letter read. “We are confident that Scott’s leadership, vision, and commitment to the UVA community uniquely position him to serve as president at this moment.”
Prior meetings since September had seen only a two-to-three United Campus Workers of Virginia show, but the Dec. 19 meeting saw the first mass protest, even with students gone for winter break.
The protesters were chiefly United Campus Workers and American Association of University Professors members. State Delegate Katrina Callsen also made a brief appearance.
“I want a legitimate selection of UVA’s president by a legitimate board. That is not what we have today,” she said in a statement. “The Board of Visitors has deliberately and continuously ignored calls from every corner of the Commonwealth to pause the search process until the Board’s membership is at full strength. They’ve ignored the governor-elect, the Speaker of the House and members of the General Assembly, and they also ignored the majority of almost every constituent element of UVA – the faculty, the students, the alumni and the staff – in other words, the very people who have the day-to-day experiences that make UVA the great university it is.”
Beardsley acknowledged there are many in the UVA community he’ll need to win over. But through it all, he holds the perspective that they all love the University.
“I was reminded about this love at the Florida State football game when everybody in that stadium was clear of one thing, all in for UVA,” Beardsley said.
“I’ll just say one of my favorite things to hear is ‘that’s another Cavalier first down’!”