The University of Virginia’s president, James E. Ryan, has resigned amid the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure several prestigious universities over claims they tolerated campus antisemitism and their efforts related to campus diversity, threatening their budgets, tax-exempt status and the enrollment of foreign students.
Ryan announced his resignation in a letter to the UVA community Friday.
“I am writing, with a very heavy heart, to let you know that I have submitted my resignation as President of the University of Virginia,” he said. Ryan did not directly address the details of the government’s investigation but took note of the potential impacts.
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“I cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save my own job,” he wrote. “To do so would not only be quixotic but appear selfish and self-centered to the hundreds of employees who would lose their jobs, the researchers who would lose their funding, and the hundreds of students who could lose financial aid or have their visas withheld.”
“While there are very important principles at play here, I would at a very practical level be fighting to keep my job for one more year while knowingly and willingly sacrificing others in this community,” he continued. “If this were not so distinctly tied to me personally, I may have pursued a different path.”
The move marks the latest university resignation tied to President Trump’s monthslong intense national effort to scrutinize and scale back diversity efforts at universities.
A spokesperson for the school said “UVA is committed to complying with all federal laws and has been cooperating with the Department of Justice in the ongoing inquiries.”
“The federal government’s support of the University is essential to continue the core mission of research, education and, clinical care,” said the spokesperson, Brian Coy.
The New York Times first reported Ryan’s intention to resign.
Ryan is known for his efforts to advance diversity both at the University of Virginia and in his previous role as dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Harvard has also been a focus of Trump administration scrutiny, recently suing the federal government over its effort to bar it from admitting international students.
The Trump administration’s efforts have resulted in colleges nationwide, including Columbia University and the University of Michigan dramatically scaling back their diversity, equity and inclusion messaging and programs.
