Dear friends,

I have been at U.Va. for 26 years and have been blessed in countless ways by that association. My time as dean has only strengthened my love for this place. But the opportunity to serve as president of an institution dedicated to so many of the things to which I am devoted — undergraduate education, civic engagement, the integration of the liberal arts into a broad education — is compelling to me. The University of Richmond promises to be a wonderful new home.

I am confident that the University of Virginia and the many friends of the College will ensure that our school sustains its position at the forefront of American higher education. The hiring of new faculty, the growth in facilities, the creation of exciting programs, the better investment in our graduate students, our increasing engagement in international study — all these things we have worked together to build will be strengthened in the ambitious campaign on which we are embarked.

Between now and next summer, I will continue to work to maintain our momentum in Arts & Sciences and pursue the priorities we have established. The South Lawn Project’s first phase has one final fundraising deadline that coincides with my last day here; I believe we will meet it. After I leave U.Va. I’ll also continue to work with the graduate students whose research I’m now supervising.

The friendship and support of alumni, students, faculty, and staff of the College and Graduate School have been an inspiration to me. Together we have made great strides in strengthening an institution that is already strong, and I look forward in the years ahead to learning about even greater things from Arts & Sciences.

With warm regards,

Ed Ayers

Buckner W. Clay Dean of Arts & Sciences
Hugh P. Kelly Professor of History