Two high‑profile leadership struggles highlight governance stress across major universities. At the University of Virginia, a contested presidential search is advancing amid conflicting accounts over the outgoing president’s departure, a stalled relationship between the governor and governor‑elect over board appointments, and an agreement with the Department of Justice that shaped the board’s approach to DEI commitments. The search committee has narrowed candidates but the choice will signal UVa’s posture amid federal scrutiny. At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the faculty senate passed a no‑confidence resolution (60‑14) in Chancellor Rodney Bennett tied to proposed program cuts and a $27.5 million budget reduction plan. Trustees will consider the administration’s recommendations, and faculty criticisms emphasize lack of transparency and concerns about academic governance. Both episodes underscore intensifying trustee‑faculty tensions as boards press for fiscal fixes while campuses push back on process and mission preservation.