Campus governance turmoil continued at major public universities as boards and executives moved quickly to name presidents while internal tensions surfaced. At the University of Virginia, text messages released via a public records request show board members exchanging sharp criticism of lawmakers and faculty amid recent campus conflicts. Separately, two East Coast flagship institutions announced new presidents after abrupt resignations, raising questions about search transparency and town–gown relations. University leaders and trustees defended expedited decisions as necessary to restore stability; faculty leaders and some state officials argued that hurried searches risked sidelining shared governance and eroding trust. The leadership churn arrives as governors and boards reshuffle trustees nationwide, making presidential searches and governance practices a front-line higher‑ed policy issue.