Former Law Dean Paul G. Mahoney Named Interim President of University of Virginia Amid Leadership Transition
August 5, 2025 – The University of Virginia (UVA) Board of Visitors has appointed Paul G. Mahoney, a distinguished law professor and former dean of the UVA School of Law, as interim president, effective August 11, 2025. Mahoney succeeds Jennifer “J.J.” Wagner Davis, who served as acting president following the resignation of former president Jim Ryan in late June, amid pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice over the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Mahoney, who has been a faculty member at the UVA School of Law since 1990 and served as its dean from 2008 to 2016, brings extensive leadership experience to the role. During his tenure as dean, he navigated the law school through the 2008 financial crisis, earning praise for his steady leadership. Current Law School Dean Leslie Kendrick noted, “Not only did he navigate that remarkably difficult period with a calm and steady hand, but he brought the institution out on the other side stronger than ever.”
The appointment follows a tumultuous period for UVA, marked by Ryan’s resignation after federal scrutiny over the university’s DEI initiatives. The Department of Justice alleged that UVA failed to fully comply with directives to dismantle these programs, prompting Ryan to step down to preserve federal funding for research and student aid. The decision sparked significant backlash, with Virginia’s Democratic leadership, including Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, calling the DOJ’s involvement “outrageous.”
Mahoney, a libertarian-leaning legal scholar with expertise in securities regulation, corporate finance, and contracts, was selected after a process that included listening sessions with UVA leadership, faculty, staff, and students, as well as an online nomination portal. UVA Rector Rachel Sheridan emphasized Mahoney’s alignment with the university’s values, stating, “We are confident that Paul’s longstanding connection to the University as a faculty member and dean of the Law School, as well as his extensive achievements as a lawyer, professor, and public servant, make him the right leader to guide this institution as the search for a 10th UVA president gets underway.”
In a statement, Mahoney expressed his commitment to UVA’s mission: “I am honored and humbled to serve as the interim president of the University of Virginia and to support the extraordinary students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents who make this institution great.” He highlighted his intent to uphold shared governance, academic freedom, and student self-governance while leading the university through this transition.
A 28-person committee has been formed to conduct a nationwide search for UVA’s permanent president, with the process expected to begin in late August or early September. Mahoney will serve with full presidential authority until a permanent successor is appointed.