US EditionSpanberger Reshapes UVA Board on First Day in Office
Governor Spanberger filled over 25 vacant or contested seats on public university boards and directed a review of the board appointment process to prompt reforms.
- On Jan. 17, 2026, Abigail Spanberger, Virginia Governor, appointed more than 25 members to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, George Mason University, and Virginia Military Institute boards.
- Governance conflict at UVA included a Faculty Senate no-confidence vote and criticism over the University of Virginia Board of Visitors’ handling of DOJ demands and a rushed presidential search.
- According to The Cavalier Daily, the new UVA board includes 14 Virginia residents and 16 alumni, while Virginia law requires a 17-member governor-appointed board with specific residency and alumni rules.
- Spanberger asked five sitting UVA board members, including Rachel Sheridan and Porter Wilkinson, to resign, and five resigned over the weekend; her office quickly filled the vacant seats.
- Spanberger issued an executive order directing the Secretary of Education and Secretary of the Commonwealth to recommend legislative changes to the Board appointment process and nominated Ralph Northam to the VMI board.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Washington Top News
Virginia MercurySpanberger appoints 27 to university boards, orders study of selection process
Open the article to view the coverage from Washington Top News
Spanberger Reshapes Virginia Boards on Day One
The new Virginia governor quickly named 27 board picks, and multiple board members at the University of Virginia and George Mason University resigned under scrutiny. Freshly sworn into office, Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger appointed 27 new members to three university boards Saturday, effectively reshaping governance at the University of Virginia, George Mason University and Virginia Military Institute.
Spanberger reshapes UVA board on first day in office
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) moved to reshape the boards of three state universities Saturday, appointing 27 new members within hours of taking office as the commonwealth’s first female governor. At the University of Virginia, Spanberger named 10 appointees to the 17-member school board, a day after reportedly pressuring five members appointed by her Republican…
Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced the Board Appointments
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced the Board Appointments for a few public universities in Virginia. On Saturday, Jan. 17, Spanberger announced in a press release the Board Appointments for George Mason University, University of Virginia and Virginia Military Institute. The list of Board Appoints includes: Board of Visitors of George Mason University Anne Altman Bruce Caswell Shawn N. Chambliss-Purvis Tom Davis Paul Misen…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
