UVA Board of Visitors appoints law professor as interim president

The University Board of Visitors has appointed a professor in the School of Law to serve as interim president in the wake of the forced resignation of former President Jim Ryan. This happened after the Board came out of a closed session today.

“Madam Rector, on the matter of the election of an interim president of the University of Virginia, I move the Board of Visitors elect Professor Paul G. Mahoney interim president of the University of Virginia,” said BOV Member Paul Harris.

The vote to appoint was unanimous. There was no discussion at the meeting but a press release was sent out at 1:58 p.m.

Mahoney served as the dean of the School of Law from 2008 to 2016 and will assume the position on August 11. Acting president J.J. Davis will continue to serve until then.

“I thank the board for the trust they have placed in me, and for arriving at this decision in a manner consistent with the University’s core values of shared governance, academic freedom and student self-governance,” Mahoney said. “As a longtime member of this community, I care deeply about UVA’s education, research and patient-care mission and look forward to continuing that important work together.”

The interim president was selected after a series of listening sessions according to UVA’s Vice President and Chief Human Resources officer. John Kosky said they asked five questions.

“What should be the top priorities to address in the upcoming year, academic year?,” Kosky asked. “What leadership qualities are most important? What do you believe will be the greatest challenges? And what areas must we partake in advance?”

There was a call for nominations that went out from July 15 through July 25. Catherine Lindqvist, executive director of UVA’s Executive Search Group, said there were many responses.

“The community responded with strong engagement. 599 nominations were submitted,” . Lindqvist said. “These represented 143 unique individuals. Five individuals received 30 nominations showing clear consensus in some areas.”

Mahoney will serve until a search committee selects a 10th president.

“We have appointed a balanced and representative search committee for the next president of UVA that includes a wide array of voices from every stakeholder group in our community,” said Rector Rachel Sheridan.

Sheridan is serving as the committee’s chair and Board member Porter Wilkinson is serving as vice chair. For a full list of who is on the panel, consult this article on UVA Today.

In her opening remarks, Sheridan said the UVA community owes a debt of gratitude to former President Jim Ryan for his service. She said he received a note from Ryan in June before he was forced to resign.

“He said, quote, I’m grateful for you to step into this role right now,” Sheridan said. “It’s bigger than you can imagine and you are able about to become a very public figure, which can be shocking.”

Sheridan welcomed four new board members who participated in their first meeting after being appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin in late June.

“I see Jean Lockhart and Calvert Saunders Moore, whose families, among other things, have generously funded scholarships that have made the university more accessible for young people,” Sheridan said.

Another new member is Jim Donovan who is a vice chairman of global client coverage at the financial firm Goldman Sachs. Donovan participated online and is also an adjunct professor at the UVA Law School.

“I see John Harris, a brilliant financial mind who has helped make not just UVA but Charlottesville a better place on a daily basis, including through his service as chairman of the Boys and Girls Club in Charlottesville,” Donovan said.

Harris is also a private investor and previous managing director, chief financial officer and senior adviser for The Carlyle Group

There was no mention of Ken Cuccinelli who was not confirmed by the Virginia Senate to serve as a replacement for Bert Ellis. A Fairfax Circuit Court judge granted a preliminary injunction barring his appointment after members of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee filed suit after Attorney General Jason Miyares insisted he was still eligible to serve.

Before you go: This story was first posted in the August 4, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement and then published here the next morning. There will be an audio version that will air on WTJU on Saturday morning and will be posted in the eventual podcast.