Thursday, April 18
8:45–10 a.m.
Plenary Session I
On June 10, 2012, faculty, staff, students and alumni of U.Va. received an unexpected email. After just two years on the job, Teresa Sullivan, U.Va.’s first female president and leader of the university Thomas Jefferson founded, had resigned. The news shocked the higher education community, and quickly became the talk of colleges and universities across the U.S. Irregularities emerged regarding how U.Va.’s board forced President Sullivan’s resignation, and the crisis remained national news. What followed was a swift, astonishing groundswell of opposition. After dramatic events, rallies, and faculty and alumni resignations, U.Va.’s board met again 17 days later and reversed itself, reinstating President Sullivan. Repercussions from last June’s events continue today.
A panel of people involved in U.Va.’s crisis and its continuing aftermath will discuss what happened from their own perspective: student, alumni and news media.
Matthew Cameron is former editor-in-chief of U.Va.’s student newspaper, The Cavalier Daily.
Richard Marks is a U.Va. alumnus, attorney, and a leader of the U.Va. Governance Roundtable.
Jenna Johnson is a higher education reporter, The Washington Post.