Gov. Glenn Youngkin will appoint four new members to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors in June. Among those being considered is a former Jefferson Council advisory board member, according to its executive director.
Responsible for approving the university’s policies and budgets, the BOV is a powerful and storied institution at UVA. The board is composed of 17 voting members, who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virginia General Assembly. Appointees are limited to a maximum of two four-year terms.
After this round of appointments, up to eight of the 17 voting members will be Youngkin appointees, if confirmed. Although two board members with terms expiring at the end of June are eligible for reappointment, Youngkin will likely seize the opportunity to shift the composition of the BOV with new members.
The BOV has been under intense scrutiny since last year’s first round of Youngkin appointments, which included Bert Ellis. Ellis has faced strong opposition from the UVA community, but remains on the board. Now, Youngkin might appoint another member of Ellis’ conservative alumni group, the Jefferson Council.
According to New York Times writer Stephanie Saul, “at least one member of the Jefferson Council is said to be under consideration” for the BOV. While Saul has not responded to a request for comment, Jefferson Council Executive Director James Bacon indicated that “another individual under serious consideration for appointment is a former member of the Jefferson Council advisory board.” Neither Bacon nor Tom Neale, president of the Jefferson Council, revealed the identity of the potential appointee.
Based on archived versions of the Jefferson Council’s website, the possible appointee is most likely either Aubrey Daniel III or Joel Gardner. Both men were previously listed as advisory board members, but were removed from the list within the past year. According to Bacon, the potential appointee stepped down to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
While Daniel has indicated that he is not being considered for the position, Gardner did not respond to a request for comment.
Gardner is a double Hoo, receiving an undergraduate degree in history in 1970 and a law degree in 1974. Since graduating, Gardner has remained involved with the university in a multitude of capacities, including serving as a member on the UVA Committee on Free Expression and Free Inquiry. In 2018, Gardner released From Rebel Yell to Revolution, a book about his time at UVA.
Independent of the Jefferson Council, Gardner has written articles critical of shifting policies and attitudes at the school, including “UVA and the New ‘McCarthyism’–An Insider’s Perspective.” Gardner calls for more intellectual diversity in his report, saying that “the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trinity [has] achieved a quasi-religious status at UVA.”
Although it is uncertain if Gardner on the final list of potential appointees, his politics align with Youngkin’s education agenda.