RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The governor on Friday reappointed the University of Virginia board member who led the failed effort to oust the school president, saying now is a time for reconciliation.
Rector Helen Dragas of Virginia Beach was among six people appointed to the Board of Visitors by Gov. Bob McDonnell, who also named two “senior advisors” to help the board deal with issues that arose during the two-week furor over Teresa Sullivan’s forced resignation.
Dragas was the main force behind the attempted ouster and the chief target of critics who not only supported Sullivan, but blasted a closed process that blindsided virtually everyone on campus. After an outcry from faculty, students, alumni, donors and political leaders, the board unanimously voted Tuesday to reinstate Sullivan.
“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 U.Va., I am also concerned that the first female rector seemed to become the sole target of recent criticism,” McDonnell said in a statement.
“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,” he said.
In a statement that did not specifically mention Dragas, Sullivan said McDonnell “used great wisdom” in appointing the board members.
“Their collective expertise will be invaluable, as there is much work to be done,” she said.
McDonnell said he was heartened by previous statements by Sullivan and the board that they can work together — a sentiment echoed by Dragas in a statement about her reappointment.
“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.
To help meet those challenges, McDonnell said, he appointed former U.Va. executive vice president Leonard W. Sandridge Jr. and Richmond business executive William H. Goodwin Jr., a former U.Va. board member, to newly created advisory positions on the board.
McDonnell normally just releases the names and brief biographical information about appointees, but his statement Friday was much more expansive.
“The university has emerged from a challenging time,” he said, adding that with Sullivan’s reinstatement “the tone at the university changed quickly this week from one of passionate disagreement in the family to one of willing collaboration.”
He said the debate over the school’s direction “puts the university in a unique and positive position for frank dialogue and progress that most organizations never encounter.”
Anne Neal, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, commended McDonnell for reappointing Dragas.
“The appointment underscores the fact that the board has learned its lesson going forward — that transparency is critical to instill the public trust,” said Neal, whose organization supported the removal of Sullivan.
Also reappointed along with Dragas was Dr. Edward Miller of Baltimore, dean of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
New appointees, replacing board members whose terms expire Saturday, are:
— Frank B. Atkinson of Hanover County, chairman of McGuire Woods Consulting and former counsel and policy director for Gov. George Allen.
— Victoria Harker of McLean, chief financial officer of Gannett Company Inc.
— Bobbie Kilberg of McLean, president of the Northern Virginia Technology Council.
— Linwood Rose of Harrisonburg, who is retiring June 30 after 14 years as president of James Madison University.
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