Former UVA President Jim Ryan. (Photo: @BoarsHeadResort/ X)
Photo : Twitter
The University of Virginia faced the wrath of the Trump administration like other universities, such as Harvard and Columbia, over the DEI programs at the universities following the President’s February 2025 order mandating the closure of all DEI-related student programs. Gregory Browm, who reportedly is a private civil rights attorney and currently works with the DOJ Office of the Civil Rights, filed a lawsuit against the University, representing a Jewish student who had alleged that the university was responsible for antisemitic harassment. Notably, the case came amid the sweeping nationwide protests in US universities over the conflict in Gaza.
Ryan’s seven-year tenure as UVA President, starting in August 2018, was marked by strong fundraising—launching the “Honor the Future” $5 billion campaign, reaching $1 billion in scholarships early—and enhancing access with tuition for low‑ and middle‑income Virginia students. He oversaw the creation of a School of Data Science, the Karsh Institute of Democracy and increased the minimum wage for employees.
