University of Virginia President Jim Ryan has resigned after demands from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding his supposed refusal to close Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Ryan told the UVA Board of Visitors of his decision on Friday, according to The New York Times.
The action follows increasing federal pressure under President Donald Trump’s February 2025 executive order, which requires the shutdown of all DEI student programs at public universities nationwide. The federal government has targeted UVA after previously cracking down on Harvard and Columbia.
Trump Official Sues UVA Over Antisemitism Allegations
The departure comes amid legal pressure from Gregory Brown, a UVA graduate, civil rights lawyer, and now DOJ official serving under Stephen Miller, who leads the department’s civil rights agenda.
Brown sued the university, acting on behalf of Matan Goldstein, an Israeli-American freshman who claimed harassment, discrimination, and retaliation at the university. The student charged that university officials did not respond to antisemitic conduct resulting from pro-Palestinian student and faculty groups.
Additionally, the suit names President Jim Ryan, UVA Rector Robert Hardie, Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP), and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) as defendants. It further claims that the university created a hostile environment in contravention of federal civil rights statutes.
DOJ Crackdown on DEI Intensifies
The resignation and lawsuit follow the Donald Trump administration’s general push to roll back DEI infrastructure in schools. The DOJ, led by Miller, has upped legal and political pressure on universities to abide by the federal directive, seeking funds and threatening lawsuits against non-compliant institutions.
Moreover, Ryan’s resignation underlines the growing challenge that university leaders face while trying to balance civil rights, free speech, and diversity within an increasingly polarized environment.
Legacy of Jim Ryan at UVA
Criticisms notwithstanding, Ryan’s seven-year tenure, which started in August 2018, was marked by major milestones for UVA. He initiated the “Honor the Future” $5 billion campaign, raised $1 billion in scholarships, and improved access, providing tuition for low- and middle-income Virginia students.
Ryan also spearheaded the development of the School of Data Science, the Karsh Institute of Democracy, and instituted a minimum wage hike for UVA staff.
His leaving signals the conclusion of a complicated period for UVA, juggling scholarly advancement with mounting political pressure.