The Jefferson Council Calls on UVA’s Board of Visitors to Pursue New Leadership
Charlottesville, VA — In a new call to action appearing in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Jefferson Council is appealing to the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors to take urgent action in restoring principled leadership to the University.
The full-page advertisement declares that The Time Is Now for New Leadership at UVA and outlines seven serious leadership failures under President Jim Ryan’s tenure — failures that have, in the Council’s view, undermined the University’s integrity and founding ideals.
“The damage to UVA’s values and traditions is not theoretical—it is palpable and measurable, and is the result of leadership that has failed the entire University community,” said Joel Gardner, President of The Jefferson Council.
The advertisement outlines seven critical leadership failures under President Ryan’s administration and directs readers to ResetUVA.com for supporting evidence and detailed documentation. The failures include:
Permitted UVA’s egregious Health System scandal — despite being fully aware of its scale and implications.
Mishandled a gun violation investigation, which tragically culminated in the deaths of three students.
Enabled the worst outbreak of antisemitism in UVA history, earning the University an “F” from the Anti-Defamation League and triggering federal investigations.
Allowed UVA’s historic Honor System to deteriorate, stripping it of both meaning and effectiveness.
Instituted a political agenda under the guise of DEI, severely damaging open discourse and UVA’s sense of intellectual community.
Sustained a climate of fear and retribution, silencing both students and faculty.
Established the least transparent administration in memory, violating the Jeffersonian principle “to follow truth wherever it may lead.”
“The values that made UVA great—honor, accountability, intellectual diversity, and civil debate—are being eroded from within,” said Gardner. “The time has come for the Board of Visitors to act decisively.”
The Jefferson Council is a nonprofit organization comprised of UVA alumni, donors, students, and faculty committed to preserving Thomas Jefferson’s legacy of freedom and excellence at the University of Virginia.
To learn more or support the campaign for new leadership at UVA, visit ResetUVA.com
Media Contact:
434.260.0798
Media@Jeffersoncouncil.org
