Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Friday that he has re-appointed University of Virginia Rector Helen E. Dragas to the university’s Board of Visitors.
The move comes about three weeks after Ms. Dragas helped trigger a campus uproar by helping force the resignation of university President Teresa Sullivan, who has since been reinstated.
Mr. McDonnell said he normally does not include statements with announcements on appointments to boards and commissions but that the recent events on campus compelled a more thorough explanation.
“Just as I was disappointed to see the lack of transparency and communication surrounding the request for the resignation of the first female president of UVa, I am also concerned that the first female rector seemed to become the sole target of recent criticism,” he said. “While there is no doubt that the board made several mistakes in its actions, which it has publicly admitted, this is not a time for recrimination. It’s a time for reconciliation.”
Ms. Dragas thanked Mr. McDonnell in a statement Friday.
“Each of us on the Board looks forward to working in a constructive and inclusive way with President Sullivan, along with students, faculty, alumni, and staff on tackling the broad challenges that face the University,” she said.
Mr. McDonnell’s other five appointments to the UVa. board represent a who’s who of movers and shakers both inside and outside Virginia: Frank B. Atkinson is the Chairman of the powerful Richmond firm McGuireWoods Consulting; Victoria Harker of McLean is the new chief financial officer for print and broadcast media company Gannett Inc.; Bobbie Kilberg is president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Technology Council; Dr. Edward Miller retired as CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine Friday; and Linwood Rose is retiring Saturday after serving 14 years as president of James Madison University.
Mr. McDonnell has also asked Leonard W. Sandridge Jr., a former executive vice-president of the university and William H. Goodwin, Jr., a former board member, to serve as senior advisers to the board.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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