James Ryan just resigned from his position as the president of the University of Virginia. 

The New York Times reports that Ryan's resignation comes as he was facing pressure from the administration of President Donald Trump to resign.

Ryan's resignation letter can be read in its entirety here:

Sharing the letter we received moments ago as a community of faculty, employees, alumni, & students about the resignation of Jim Ryan. The leadership principles within it are exemplary. pic.twitter.com/bpPmHx60Pq

— Joshua Brown (@HigherEdSoc) June 27, 2025

Background

The alleged pressure that the Trump administration put on Ryan to resign came from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). It had launched an investigation into the university's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

Trump and his administration, of course, have prioritized the elimination of DEI practices from America, and the president has been using everything in his power to get rid of these practices, including federal funding for colleges and universities.

The Washington Examiner explains:

After the Trump Administration rolled out its efforts at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term to dismantle DEI programs across the nation, the University of Virginia was investigated by the Justice Department due to complaints of race-based treatment on campus and its failure to comply with new mandates. On July 17, the Justice Department sent a warning to the board overseeing the university, demanding Ryan’s resignation.

The big concern, from the point of view of the university, was the Trump could pull federal funding from the university if Ryan did not resign.

The Examiner adds:

Some board members were also concerned that Ryan had not properly stripped affirmative action policies at the university after the 2023 Supreme Court decision. As president, Ryan was known for his efforts to make the university more diverse, but many of his conservative colleagues and school alumni deemed him as being “too woke.”

"A very heavy heart"

Ryan began his resignation letter, writing, "I am writing, with a very heavy heart, to let you know that I have submitted my resignation as President of the University of Virginia."

Throughout the letter, Ryan avoids specifics. Instead, he writes such things as:

While there are very important principles at play here, I would at a very practical level be fighting to keep my job for one more year while knowingly and willingly sacrificing others in this community. If this were not so distinctly tied to me personally, I may have pursued a different path. But I could not in good conscience cause real and direct harm to my colleagues and our students in order to preserve my own position.

Ryan concludes, saying that "It has been an honor to be your president."

"Thanks for the outpouring of support over the last few days and weeks . . . This was an excruciatingly difficult decision, and I am heartbroken to be leaving this way," he added.

It is unclear whether or not Ryan's resignation is effective immediately. Reports indicate that it will be effective "no later than Aug. 15, 2025."