“It’s Not in One Central Office” — DEI at UVA Is Everywhere

Jim Ryan’s defense of UVA’s pervasive DEI efforts despite changes in structure.

President Jim Ryan made it clear that while the structure of the DEI office may change, the university's ideological commitment to DEI remains untouched—and firmly under his leadership.

“The work around diversity, equity, and inclusion happens all across the school. It’s not in one central office.”

That line says it all: DEI isn’t being dismantled—it’s being redistributed. Ryan downplayed concerns about the Board’s resolution and reframed criticism of DEI as a misunderstanding of terms:

“Equity has become a supercharged word with people thinking it means something different from how I view it… I don’t hear people saying we no longer believe that diversity is a strength.”

He emphasized that his own values haven’t shifted at all:

“My values haven’t changed. I don’t think diversity is a weakness. I think it’s a strength… diversity actually advances merit.”

Ryan also defended differential treatment under the name of equal opportunity:

“When I think about equity, I think about equal opportunity… it doesn’t mean treating people identically.”

He reaffirmed that DEI work is happening constantly—and will continue:

“Inclusion happens every day… in the classroom, in the dining halls, in the residence halls… and I do not see that work going away.”

Finally, he distanced himself from the Board’s directive, saying:

“This is not how I would have approached this, but I’m trying to keep it in perspective.”

Ryan isn’t backing off DEI—he’s doubling down. The values, the infrastructure, and the ideology are all staying put. He may comply with the letter of the Board’s resolution, but everything else suggests a strategy of rebrand and preserve.

If you were hoping for real change, Ryan just told you: don’t count on it.