Welcome Madame President: UVA's wish list for Teresa Sullivan

The Morgan Harrington and Yeardley Love tragedies. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's Climategate attack on a former UVA researcher. And now the crisis facing the Virginia Quarterly Review after the suicide of its managing editor. All that's on top of more fundamental challenges–- a billion dollars lost from UVA's long term investment pool in 2008. Statewide cuts to higher education, and professors and staff who haven't seen a raise in years. 

As new UVA president Teresa Sullivan takes the reins after the two-decade tenure of her predecessor John Casteen, there's no shortage of pressing matters for her to tackle–- many of them attracting national news coverage– and in her first weeks on the job, she's hit the ground running, first with a wide-ranging press conference addressing issues from how students are asked about their criminal histories to the University's finances. 

Behind the scenes, she's already met with deans, professors, students and  alumni. She's so busy, according to UVA spokesperson Carol Wood, that she didn't have time to respond to the Hook's request for comment.

When her hire was announced back in January, UVA Rector John O. "Dubby" Wynne, was nearly giddy as he lauded the depth of her experience– as a scholar and as an administrator at the University of Michigan and the expansive University of Texas campus system– and claimed Sullivan had met a list of requirements put forth by the board "so comprehensive as to be unattainable." 

That enthusiasm seems to have been contagious.

"She's a proven administrator and an excellent scholar," says George Overstreet, an associate dean in the McIntire School of Commerce. He says that fully understanding UVA's rich history– and Jefferson's legacy that seems to influence every square every inch of the hallowed Grounds– may be a challenge for any newcomer to fully comprehend, but he believes Sullivan's background researching complex topics– he notes the books she has co-authored with Obama's TARP czar Elizabeth Warren on consumer debt– show she has the brains and the curiosity to succeed. 

"Everybody I know is excited about the possibilities of new leadership, although they respected Casteen," he says, citing Sullivan's gender as yet another of her strengths. 

"A reduction in testosterone level can never be bad," he laughs.

But even the most notable scholarship and experience aren't enough to guarantee success, says Overstreet, who is among the 20 UVA faculty, students and staff featured in the pages that follow. 

"We've all got to pitch in there and get behind her," he says. "I think she's going to be great."

Whitney Bullock, fourth year
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA

"I wish she'd focus on diversity within different student groups so we'd be more unified as a student body."

Emma Cohen, Albemarle High School senior, volunteer in UVA's McIntire Department of Music
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA

"I hope she'll emphasize support for Old Cabell Hall and the groups that perform there."

Melvin Rogers, assistant professor of politics
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA

"Faculty raises. We haven't had one in several years. In order to be competitive with other institutions, that's something she'll have to examine."

Michael Leff, groundskeeper for the Pavilion Gardens
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA

"Think about the workers at the bottom of the wage scale. I've been here 10 years and haven't seen a raise or a promotion. I'm still earning in the low 20s. When so many people are pulling hefty salaries, how is it that the people at the bottom get left behind? 

Ashley Pinney, entering grad student in the Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education program
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA

"As a new student, I hope she'll be accessible to all students from undergrad through postgrad."

Eliot Watts, fourth year
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"After the Yeardley Love tragedy last spring, President Casteen, in that moment, was absolutely perfect. She's her own person– she can't and shouldn't be Casteen, but to live up to that example is something we can all hope for."

Teresa Freix, employee in the UVA Bookstore
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"Work on parking. We pay a fair amount to park, but there are times we can't even use those spots."

George Overstreet, Associate Dean of Research and Centers, McIntire School of Commerce; Walker Professor in Growth Enterprises; Director, Center for Growth Enterprises
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"One of the things everyone wants to do is promote cross-cultural interaction of a deep nature. That's something I'm sure she's committed to, but that's going to require some changes over the next decade to implement. In addition, she's got a major problem with the whole financial model of the university– the way funds are allocated back to the units."

Tom Faulders, president and CEO, UVA Alumni Association
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"Over 97 percent of alumni feel pride in their University and over 95 percent keep up with the news from the Grounds. Because of this level of attention, it will be important for Ms. Sullivan to connect with alumni. Based on early observations, I would say that she is off to a flying start."

Guy Lyle, fourth year Lawn resident
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"Since she's from outside the University, it's important that the tradition of the University is maintained."

Mark Edmundson, English professor
PHOTO COURTESY UVA

"I hope that President Sullivan commits herself to continuing on with one of John Casteen's best achievements, AccessUVA. It's of great importance to me, and I think to other faculty members, that smart, energetic students without a lot of money can make their way to the University and into our classrooms."

Jahan Ramazani, English professor
PHOTO COURTESY JAHAN RAMAZANI

"Although UVA ranks among the top 25 schools in the country, many of its graduate programs lag far behind those of peer institutions. Every year, we try to lure the best graduate students to study and work with us. But no matter how excellent the faculty, unless we can offer competitive packages, we come up short. Having top-notch graduate students here helps the University retain outstanding faculty. And excellent graduate students provide stimulating instruction in the many entry-level undergraduate classes they teach."

Larry Sabato, Director, Center for Politics, professor of politics
PHOTO COURTESY LARRY SABATO

"It almost goes without saying that the president first needs to secure our financial future. Since sizeable state funding increases aren't likely in the near future– unless we expand the student body greatly– a constant, vigorous search for more big private gifts is essential. We also need to keep in mind what makes us special– the Jeffersonian mandate to be a beacon of enlightenment, especially in civic matters, for the entire country and the world. Not every aspect of Jefferson's legacy should be preserved, but this part must be."

Andrew Schroth, third year
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"Get directly involved in student safety. I think everyone would say that, given the events of last year and this summer."

Siva Vaidhyanathan, associate professor of media studies
PUBLICITY PHOTO

"The first is to strengthen the natural sciences. Each of our major science departments could be twice as large as they are now and still just approach the power of a University of Michigan or University of Texas– two institutions at which Sullivan worked. Second, I hope she considers the goal of making the University and Charlottesville a fine-arts destination. With strong fundraising and a clear vision, we could build a world-class musical and theater space, expand the already excellent visual arts facilities, and take advantage of the natural beauty and hospitality of the region to become the Tanglewood of the Mid-Atlantic."

Sydney Blair, associate professor of creative writing
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"There should be more melding of events between and among the departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. That sort of interdisciplinary/interdepartmental overlapping might give rise to fruitful new ways of looking at things."

Pam Norris, founder and director of the UVA Microscale Heat Transfer Laboratory and the Aerogel Research Lab
PHOTO COURTESY PAM NORRIS

"I hope that one of her initial areas of focus will be faculty retention. As the economy begins to pick up, UVA stands vulnerable to poaching of many of our outstanding and high performing faculty, who haven't received raises for years."

Kate Goodman, intern at the Office of the Architect
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"Feeling relatable should be a priority– I really liked the first email she sent out. It was worded really well, and she seemed excited. It makes a difference."

Ken Elzinga, Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics
PUBLICTY PHOTO

"The heart and soul of UVA is the College of Arts & Sciences. From my perspective, the first priority for President Sullivan is to enhance the resource base of the College so that it can provide the quality of teaching, research, and scholarship that will allow UVA to maintain and improve its status among the nation's premier institutions."

Tina Knight, assistant to the chair of the music department
PHOTO BY COURTENEY STUART

"There's been a big push lately for the arts– the band is getting a new building– but that won't free up classroom space. A new building for music would be awesome."

Correction: Pavilion Groundskeeper Michael Leff's name was misspelled in the original version of this article.–ed

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