James E. Ryan, the former president of the University of Virginia, published a detailed 12-page account alleging that university trustees and Justice Department pressure forced his abrupt resignation. Ryan framed the episode as a campaign of political and ideological interference, saying board members pressed him amid federal investigations into diversity programs and threats to research funding. His account and follow-up coverage highlight tensions between governing boards, state officials, and federal actors over university governance and academic freedom. The episode has prompted calls from higher-education groups for transparent, independent board processes and is likely to influence presidential searches and governance oversight at other public institutions.