Edward L. Ayers named ninth president of the University of Richmond
November 10, 2006
The Board of Trustees of the University of Richmond today elected Edward L. Ayers, currently the Buckner W. Clay Dean of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia, to be the institution’s ninth president. Ayers will take office effective July 1, 2007.
“This is a great day for the University of Richmond. Ed Ayers is an outstanding teacher, a distinguished scholar and a proven leader with a vision and passion for making the University of Richmond the best it can be,” said George W. Wellde Jr., Rector of the University.
Ayers earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee and his master’s degree and Ph.D. in American Studies at Yale. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his teaching and scholarship. In 2003, he was named the U.S. Professor of the Year for Doctoral and Research Universities by the Carnegie Foundation. One of the nation’s leading scholars on the history of the American South, Ayers has authored or edited nine books, one of which was a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. He has served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Virginia since 2001.
“I am both honored and thrilled to have been selected as the University of Richmond’s next president,” said Ayers. “I have long admired the University of Richmond’s traditions, its unique mix of academic programs, and its superb faculty, staff, student body and alumni. I look forward to being part of an ambitious future of quality, distinctiveness and purpose.”
At the University of Virginia, Ayers leads a school with 25 departments, more than 50 majors, approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 575 tenured and tenure-track professors.
During his tenure as dean, Ayers has raised over $110 million for the College of Arts and Sciences.
His election concluded a national search that began in January. A presidential search committee, chaired by alumnus and former rector of the Board of Trustees Robert L. Burrus Jr., included trustee, alumni, faculty, staff and student representatives. “The Board tasked us with identifying the best person to lead the university at this critical time in its history. We began by listening to university stakeholders about the characteristics needed and then aggressively recruited a stellar pool of candidates. Of all the accomplished and distinguished individuals we looked at, one stood out,” said Burrus. “I am confident that we indeed accomplished our goal.”
Ayers and his wife, Abby, are parents of two children, a daughter Hannah, who is currently a student at the College of William and Mary, and a son Nate, who recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University. Abby Ayers, also a graduate of the University of Tennessee, is a former teacher and an active volunteer with children.
Founded in 1830, the University of Richmond is a private, highly selective residential university with a national and international profile. It is noted for its challenging academic programs, excellent facilities, commitment to undergraduate education and strong resource base, including an endowment exceeding $1.4 billion. Richmond has a full-time enrollment of approximately 3,600 in its schools of arts and sciences, business, continuing studies, law and leadership studies.
The university will hold a welcoming reception on campus for Ayers and his wife on Nov. 14 at 2:30 p.m. in the Robins Center. All students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to the event.
For more information on President-elect Ayers, visit www.richmond.edu/president-elect.