University of Virginia president, pressured over DEI, resigns rather than ‘fight federal government’
June 27, 2025
The president of the University of Virginia has announced he is resigning amid heavy pressure from conservative critics and the Trump administration over the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The departure of James Ryan represents a dramatic escalation in the Trump administration’s effort to reshape higher education. Ryan had faced conservative criticism that he failed to heed federal orders to eliminate DEI policies, and his removal was pushed for by the Justice Department as it investigated the school, according to a person who was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
