As Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger assumed office, several University of Virginia board members were asked to resign amid months of campus upheaval. The change in state leadership appears to have triggered a governance reset at the flagship, according to reporting on trustee dynamics and political appointments. The reporting situates the board turnover within a broader national pattern of intensified state involvement in university governance and leadership selection, and it notes mounting pressure on boards to respond to campus controversies and political scrutiny. Why it matters: shifts on governing boards can alter presidential authority, oversight of academic priorities, and university relations with faculty and donors—especially when a new governor seeks to assert influence over flagship institutions.