See below for reactions to this breaking news (also, see here for UVA’s press release/pre-holiday and pre-weekend news dump; pathetic!):

“The University of Virginia’s Republican-controlled board voted Friday to appoint a new president weeks before a Democratic governor assumes power, a move that comes six months after the campus was rocked when its previous president resigned under pressure from the Trump administration.

The board appointed Scott C. Beardsley, the longtime dean of the university’s Darden School of Business, at a time when the leadership of Virginia’s flagship public university has become a political issue.”

Here’s a statement by LG-elect Ghazala Hashmi, who says that “Youngkin’s decision to advance the appointment of a new president at the University of Virginia in the waning days of his administration, just as Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger prepares to assume office, raises serious concerns about process, institutional norms, and respect for a democratic transition.”

Lieutenant Governor-elect Ghazala Hashmi Responds to Youngkin’s UVA Board of Visitors Naming New University President

RICHMOND, VA – Lieutenant Governor-elect Ghazala Hashmi (D-Virginia), released the following statement in response to the Youngkin-majority University of Virginia Board of Visitors naming a new university president in the final days of his administration:

“Governor Youngkin’s decision to advance the appointment of a new president at the University of Virginia in the waning days of his administration, just as Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger prepares to assume office, raises serious concerns about process, institutional norms, and respect for a democratic transition.

“The presidency of the University of Virginia is among the most consequential leadership roles in public higher education, both in Virginia and across the country. This position shapes the academic mission, research priorities, faculty governance, and the university’s relationship with the Commonwealth for years to come. Decisions of this magnitude require deliberation, transparency, and meaningful engagement with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader university community. Rushing such an appointment at the end of an outgoing administration risks undermining shared governance and eroding confidence in the independence of the institution.

“These concerns are compounded by the fact that the University’s Board of Visitors is not fully constituted. A board that is incomplete, particularly during a transition between administrations, cannot credibly claim the full authority or legitimacy required to appoint a president whose tenure will extend well beyond the current governor’s term. Proceeding under these circumstances weakens the integrity of the process and invites questions about whether political expediency is being placed ahead of sound governance.

“As an educator and longtime advocate for Virginia’s public colleges and universities, I know that leadership decisions of this scale must be guided by academic values, institutional stability, and public trust, and not by political timing or calculus. In November, in large numbers, Virginians voted for a new direction; honoring the voices of voters includes allowing the incoming administration, in partnership with a fully constituted Board of Visitors, to participate meaningfully in selecting long-term leadership.

“The appropriate next step is to fully pause the presidential appointment process until the new administration is in place and the Board of Visitors is appropriately constituted. At that point, the University should undertake an open, inclusive search that is grounded in shared governance and informed by broad campus and public input. Such steps will help to ensure that the next president is chosen through a process that is transparent, legitimate, and worthy of the University of Virginia’s stature and mission.”

I’ll add more statements as I see them…

• VA Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell asks, “Does anyone remember Baghdad Bob?”

“Scott Beardsley, you will quickly learn about the separation of powers between branches and what happens when one branch gives a middle finger to another that funds, regulates and allows their existence. Buckle up.” – Sen. Louise Lucas

“We’ll see about that. The UVA Board of Visitors is not fully constituted. The Senate, and as Chair of our Privileges and Elections Committee, we have clear oversight over UVA’s Board of Visitors, and we intend to exercise it this upcoming session.” – VA State Sen. Aaron Rouse

Fmr. Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA05): “Naming a new president of the University of Virginia should have been a cause for celebration and a cause for unity across the university and Charlottesville community. Instead, the Board of Visitors chose at every turn to do exactly the wrong thing, to make everything political, and now to expect Virginia taxpayers to pick up the bill for all of the legal fees they’re incurring. And they haven’t even set up their own candidate to have any chance of success because of the botched process. We need Governor-elect Spanberger to constitute a full Board as soon as possible to expand the search so that the next president, whoever that is, has a chance to succeed so that we can all celebrate this next chapter of this great university both as an institute of higher learning and as the largest employer here in the region. Let’s do the right thing.”