How Conservative Forces United to Oust the University of Virginia President

The Jefferson Council, a group of conservative University of Virginia alumni, had grown increasingly frustrated with the university’s leadership.

For several years, the organization vocally opposed President James E. Ryan’s strong support for diversity initiatives on campus.

They had hoped that Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican known for his opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) programs, would steer the university in a new direction. Yet, as 2025—the final year of Youngkin’s term—unfolded, the university’s D.E.I. framework remained intact. Meanwhile, mounting polls suggested a challenging re-election campaign for the governor.

The Jefferson Council found renewed momentum with an unexpected ally: former President Donald Trump.

Early in his presidency, Trump issued executive orders that prohibited federal diversity and inclusion programs, placing pressure on public and private universities reliant on federal funding.

Subsequently, the Department of Justice appointed Gregory W. Brown—an alumnus and donor of the University of Virginia—to the Office of Civil Rights to enforce these directives.

The Jefferson Council was familiar with Brown, who had previously represented students in lawsuits against the university alleging free speech violations and antisemitic harassment—cases often brought to him by the council itself.