Rector William H. Goodwin Jr. recently announced that a presidential search committee has been formed to recommend a candidate to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors. President Sullivan, whose contract ends in 2018, says she will step down after her contract expires.
The search committee will be tasked with recommending the potential 9th president of the University. Although UVa has been around for nearly two centuries, there have only been eight presidents; in fact, UVa did not have a president serving the University from 1825 to 1904. In a recent interview, Rector Goodwin emphasized the importance of electing a new president.
“The board is committed to finding the absolute best person to build on President Teresa Sullivan’s accomplishments and the distinguished legacy of the University of Virginia’s previous presidents.”
The search committee is comprised of 22 members and will include 2 students, 11 board members, 5 faculty members, 3 former board members, and a senior member in the UVa Medical Center management team.
The committee’s first meeting will be on February 20, but according to Goodwin there is no timetable for the search process.
“We intend to conduct a thorough and transparent search,” Goodwin said. “We have no timetable in mind in which to conclude the search, but we intend to be deliberate.”
The search will also consist of subcommittees that will hear input from selected students, faculty, staff, and alumni members. The input will allow the committee to understand what qualifications are necessary for the new president. The transparency that the search encompasses adheres to President Sullivan’s sentiments.
In a letter Sullivan stated, “The most effective search will include the viewpoints of UVa’s many stakeholders: the Board itself; faculty, students, and staff; deans and vice presidents; alumni, parents, and philanthropists, including supporters of UVa athletics; members of the local community; and elected leaders in Richmond and in Washington.”
Sullivan will remain in her current position until her contract expires.
