General Assembly Confirms Youngkin’s Appointees to UVa Board

The Jefferson Council is pleased to acknowledge that the appointment of Jefferson Council President Bert Ellis and three others to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors has been confirmed by both the Virginia state senate and House of Delegates.The four individuals appointed last June by Governor Glenn Youngkin — Ellis, Stephen P. Long, Amanda L. Pillion, and Douglas D. Wetmore — have served on the board subject to approval by the General Assembly in its 2023 session. The confirmation of Ellis proved to be contentious, but he narrowly survived an effort by senate Democrats to oust him.The UVa Board has 17 voting members. In June Youngkin will appoint another four members, giving him a total of eight board members who broadly share his vision for the University of Virginia. With such a large representation of his appointees on the board, the Jefferson Council is confident that it will be possible to bring about meaningful and lasting change to UVa.

14 Comments

  1. James B Newman
    James B Newman on February 14, 2023 at 3:38 pm

    Without doubt, this is a great day for the Commonwealth and a great day for the University. Real progress can be made and a new day has dawned.

    • Wahoo74
      Wahoo74 on February 14, 2023 at 4:39 pm

      Agree 100%!

  2. Maureen
    Maureen on February 14, 2023 at 4:16 pm

    Great news. This gives me hope that I might actually want my daughters to apply to my alma mater in a few years.

  3. Wahoo74
    Wahoo74 on February 14, 2023 at 4:34 pm

    This brings to mind the first sentence of Dickens A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” This time the mob and Robespierre didn’t win!👍

  4. Anne Carson Foard
    Anne Carson Foard on February 14, 2023 at 5:14 pm

    Very glad this is happening. We can’t stay mired in the past but a rational approach to the future will be welcome.

  5. Jack Cann
    Jack Cann on February 14, 2023 at 7:38 pm

    Well done!

  6. John Hunt, MD
    John Hunt, MD on February 14, 2023 at 10:52 pm

    Fantastic! I resigned my tenure at UVA because it had gone full fascist. It needs leadership that gets it back toward teaching the methods of freedom and peaceful coexistence instead of crony coercion and collectivist insanity. Please eliminate the idiocy of mandated crony health insurance for students. Health insurance is the problem, not the solution, and the cronyism of coercing a health insurance product on students, particularly one that does cozy deals with the medical center, needs to be avoided.

    • Walter smith
      Walter smith on February 15, 2023 at 12:33 am

      I am very curious about your medical insurance comment. In the late 70s we basically had to buy a skinny plan for student health. Now with kids covered until 26, I don’t think it is necessary, but I also suspect that Student Health is all in for maximizing its billings. And I also greatly resent that Student Health’s full panoply of services is behind NetBadge, so parents can’t see all the “services.” I think on purpose. But can you offer a little insight to me on the insurance? If you don’t want to post, you can send to me at wattdog@msn.com

  7. Jack Kennard
    Jack Kennard on February 14, 2023 at 11:21 pm

    This comes a wonderful news that I frankly did not expect. I am torn about attending my 50th reunion at Darden this year. Although I deeply value my education, my classmates and still love the University I attended as an undergraduate and graduate, I am concerned it is “woke beyond repair”. Perhaps, with Younkin’s determination to use all the “tools” at his disposal, repairs will be made.

    • The Bootstrap Kid
      The Bootstrap Kid on February 15, 2023 at 6:40 am

      I feel exactly the same regarding my attendance at my 45th law school reunion.

  8. Patrick Alther
    Patrick Alther on February 15, 2023 at 3:08 pm

    Relieved that this has been resolved. Ellis not the reactionary that some ideologues myopical!y tried to paint him as.

  9. Kerry D Moynihan
    Kerry D Moynihan on February 15, 2023 at 3:11 pm

    Excellent news indeed. I spoke with Bert the other day and it is good that the Woke Character Assassins failed to derail the Governors’ choices. .

  10. Mike Sullivan
    Mike Sullivan on February 17, 2023 at 10:31 pm

    Thank you, Jim Bacon! You need to be commended on keeping the sunlight on this issue.

  11. walter smith
    walter smith on February 18, 2023 at 10:46 pm

    The phantom down voter strikes again!How dare people have opinions that don’t agree with the benevolent and all seeing Jim Ryan Oz!