University leadership contests have become flashpoints for political and governance fights. The University of Virginia pushed ahead with a presidential search amid public dispute between outgoing and incoming governors, board legitimacy challenges and conflicting accounts over its prior president’s departure—moves that will shape the flagship’s approach to federal scrutiny and DEI commitments. At the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln, faculty passed a no‑confidence resolution in Chancellor Rodney Bennett by a large margin after he proposed program cuts tied to a $27.5 million budget reduction. Senators cited lack of transparency and rushed timelines; regents will vote on final recommendations in December. Both episodes underscore heightened tension between governing boards and campus constituencies over strategy, fiscal stewardship and process. The resulting turnover risks disrupting research, fundraising and institutional stability at a time when colleges face shrinking margins and increased federal oversight.