Statement from The Jefferson Council on the Removal of Bert Ellis from the UVA Board of Visitors
“For here we are not afraid to follow the truth wherever it may lead.”
The Jefferson Council is deeply disturbed by Governor Youngkin’s decision to remove Bert Ellis from the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors.
At a time when UVA is confronting some of the most serious crises in its recent history—including the ongoing investigation into the tragic murders of three students and mounting allegations that senior leadership concealed critical patient safety issues at UVA Health—this decision is both troubling and ill-timed. Bert Ellis has been the Board’s most consistent and vocal advocate for transparency, accountability, and responsible governance. Removing him now sends the wrong message to students, faculty, alumni, and the broader UVA community.
Until recently, the Board of Visitors had largely served as a rubber stamp for the administration at UVA, with meetings resembling scripted showcases rather than forums for real oversight. That changed this year when the Board reasserted its governance authority, culminating in a unanimous vote to dismantle UVA’s sweeping DEI bureaucracy. Leading that effort was Bert Ellis, who—despite relentless stonewalling from an entrenched administration backed by a multimillion-dollar PR machine—worked tirelessly to expose the truth and push for change. No one on the Board has shown greater dedication or determination.
We believe Mr. Ellis is being punished not for any failure, but for doing exactly what he was appointed to do: provide real oversight and demand accountability. If anyone should be asked to step down, it is the current leadership of the University, which has brought shame and dishonor to UVA through its gross mismanagement of both its health care system and its mishandling of antisemitism on campus—a failure so serious it has triggered a federal investigation.
Bert Ellis has been a steadfast champion for transparency and integrity at UVA. His removal is a disservice to the University and to everyone who believes in responsible, accountable leadership. We urge the Governor and the Board to recommit themselves to those principles and to ensure that these pressing issues are not swept aside without proper scrutiny.
