Was it really just Tuesday that we all welcomed President Sullivan back to UVA? It seems a lot longer ago than that. Anyway, yesterday Governor McDonnell reappointed Helen Dragas to a second term on the University of Virginia's Board of Governors. So I feel obligated to put up a post welcoming her back as well. The transitional justice (and reconciliation) scholar in me finds this a most interesting move: each side ends up with something they want. This is, I'm guessing, about bringing the UVA family back together. That's essentially what Governor McDonnell said yesterday in re-appointing Ms. Dragas:
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. I have been heartened by recent statements made by president Sullivan, the Board of Visitors and by the faculty senate chair about their ability to work with the rector. As Faculty Senate Chairman George Cohen said to The Richmond Times-Dispatch, "She (Dr. Sullivan) said she can work with the rector. I think we can work with the rector as well." That kind of commitment to unity, healing and advancement is crucial to the university's success in maintaining itself as a pillar of higher education to pursue the growth of knowledge and advance the human condition. Today's reappointment is made in that spirit and with that purpose.
The governor's press release, with more details, is here. What has received relatively little attention yet (ACA is consuming all the oxygen in the room right now, I guess) are Governor McDonnell's other appointments. He made six to the Board of Visitors. In addition to the re-appointment of Ms. Dragas, the appointments were:
Frank B. Atkinson, characterized by the Post as "a longtime lobbyist and Republican activist." Mr. Atkinson is also a 1982 graduate of UVA's law school and a partner at McGuire Woods.
Bobbie Kilberg, chief executive of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, characterized by the Post as "a top donation bundler for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney." Ms. Kilberg is also a graduate of Yale Law School and a former lawyer with Arnold and Porter.
Linwood Rose, who is leaving the presidency of James Madison University today (June 30).
Edward Miller, former chief executive of Johns Hopkins Medicine (and the person whom Dragas has initially hoped would serve as interim president, as I recall).
Victoria Harker, chief financial officer of Gannett.
The image is of the University of Virginia's Alderman Library.
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