In a unanimous vote Friday, the University of Virginia\u2019s Board of Visitors selected Scott C. Beardsley, dean of the UVA Darden School of Business, as the University\u2019s 10th president.<\/p>\n
An experienced academic leader and professor, board chair\/director and senior executive, Beardsley will bring the skills and experience that helped make the Darden School the top public business school in the country to his new role as UVA\u2019s next president. He will assume his new position Jan. 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am deeply honored to be named the 10th president of the University of Virginia, an institution with a historic legacy shaped by visionaries and dedicated members of the University community,\u201d Beardsley said. \u201cAs president, I embrace the responsibility of carrying forward that legacy while advancing UVA\u2019s mission and ensuring we are prepared for the evolving landscape of higher education and health care. I am committed to excellence and bringing a results-driven and student-centered approach to promote the University\u2019s academic excellence, faculty strength, exceptional patient care, financial sustainability, public service mission, and impact for the long term.\u201d<\/p>\n
The board elected Beardsley after he was put forward as a finalist by the Special Committee on the Nomination of a President, which oversaw an exhaustive process to identify qualified candidates.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs stated at the outset of this search, we have been committed to an inclusive, transparent and thoughtful process to ensure the next president of the University of Virginia is equipped to play a critical role in the future of our great institution,\u201d Rachel Sheridan, board rector and chair of the special committee, said. \u201cAfter careful deliberation and close consultation with the UVA community and stakeholders throughout the process, including faculty, staff, students, alumni and parents, we are honored to announce Dean Beardsley as the University\u2019s next leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
The right leader for a complex time in higher education<\/p>\n
In a moment when institutions of higher education across the nation are facing complex questions regarding academic and institutional independence, research funding changes, a shifting landscape for collegiate athletics, and many others, the board identified Beardsley\u2019s experience leading large, multifaceted organizations and managing competing priorities as key attributes.<\/p>\n
William H. Goodwin Jr., former rector of the board and a Darden School alumnus, said, \u201cScott Beardsley is a visionary leader and a tremendous choice to be the next president of the University of Virginia. I know him to be a wonderful person who is exceptionally talented and grounded in integrity every day. Scott has already been a member of the University community for several years both as dean of the Darden School and as a resident on the Lawn. I couldn\u2019t be more excited to have a president with strong ties to the University.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs someone who has spent the last 15 years leading public companies through growth and change, I recognize the importance of a steady, principled leader,\u201d said Thomas J. Baltimore Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Park Hotels & Resorts and a graduate of the University of Virginia\u2019s McIntire School of Commerce and the Darden School of Business. \u201cScott Beardsley brings a practical, strategic approach and a deep respect for UVA\u2019s people and institutions. He understands how to build trust across diverse groups and position an institution for long-term success, which is exactly what this moment at UVA calls for.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDean Beardsley is an unusually thoughtful leader who understands the University not simply as an institution, but as a living, evolving and dynamic community of ideas shaped by its people,\u201d former Rector George Keith Martin said. \u201cHis breadth and depth of experience will be a significant asset to the University. He recognizes that UVA is strongest when people feel valued, connected and invested in its shared purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cScott Beardsley is a seasoned and collaborative leader. I have worked with Scott for the past decade and know him as a person of talent, energy and passion for higher education,\u201d interim President of the University of Virginia Paul Mahoney said. \u201cWhen I took the reins as interim president, I said that my job was to set up the 10th president for success. I will leave office confident in having done so. The University has achieved operational stability and reached a favorable agreement with the Department of Justice. I\u2019m proud of what we accomplished and look forward to working closely with Scott to ensure the smoothest possible transition.\u201d<\/p>\n
A record of academic excellence and institutional leadership<\/p>\n