University of Virginia President Scott Beardsley stood in front of two dozen School of Data Science faculty and staff members, with another dozen watching on Zoom, and posed two initial questions:
- What are you most proud of at UVA and in your work today?
- Looking ahead, what are the biggest opportunities for UVA to excel in our mission?
The conversation-starters from Beardsley’s “Grounds for Conversation” listening and learning gatherings are designed to introduce himself to community members, hear their ideas and understand the opportunities ahead. The feedback will help Beardsley, a former dean of the Darden School of Business, highlight the University’s excellence while also informing his thinking and guiding his leadership. Beardsley assumed the University presidency on Jan. 1.
“One purpose for me is getting to know everybody,” Beardsley told UVA Today. “And just being out there listening. There are a lot of good ideas out there, and people have a lot of perspectives based on their experiences – experiences I don’t have.”
Beardsley’s stop at the Data Science School came after conversations at UVA Northern Virginia, the University’s Department of Safety and Security, the College at Wise, the School of Medicine and UVA Health. He then visited the School of Architecture on Wednesday. On Friday, he met with the boards of the Alumni Association, the McIntire School of Commerce and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Beardsley has also been meeting with student leaders and having lunch in the dining halls.
He will continue meeting with other schools and units throughout the spring and into the next academic year and will visit with alumni, parents and friends across the country and around the world.
About two dozen members of the School of Data Science’s faculty and staff listen to Beardsley as he poses key questions, including asking what they are most proud of about their work at UVA. Another dozen listened to the president on Zoom. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“In my first 100 days, I had hundreds of meetings,” Beardsley said. “Every school matters. The health system matters. The students, faculty and staff matter. The alumni matter. Our local communities matter. Our legislators and boards matter. So, getting out there and listening to everyone’s ideas is critical to any strategic review process. But even if this weren’t part of a review process, it is just the right thing to do. People should be heard and seen and understand they are part of the future of UVA.”
While Beardsley says he hopes to meet as many stakeholders as possible, he realizes he won’t get to everyone. The president’s office has to reach more community members and to collect thoughts and ideas for 鶹ƽ future.
Mona Sloane, an assistant professor of data science and media studies, said she was happy to see the president at her school.
“I came here today because I think we are at a crucial moment in time for higher education, and we have a leadership role to play,” she said, especially in the emerging field of data science and AI, and how those disciplines are being taught across the country. She also said her colleagues across Grounds would be well served by contributing their feedback.
“I think UVA, writ large, is a wonderful, vibrant community,” Sloane said. “And I think it is commendable that our leader is engaging with our community. It is shared governance, and I think that is important.”
UVA Wise Chancellor Donna Henry said she was appreciative that the president made an early stop in Southwest Virginia.
“It was a pleasure to introduce President Beardsley to Wise,” Henry said. “I’m grateful that he took time to visit and ask our students, faculty and staff about our many successes and opportunities for our growth for the future. He listened thoughtfully and contributed much to our conversations about expanding housing, the importance of scholarships, our academic and admissions successes and more.”
Beardsley said the first meetings have been highly productive, and he is looking forward to more.
“A lot of good content and ideas have come out when I ask the community, ‘What are you proud of? What is it that you don’t want to change?’” Beardsley said. “But I also ask them, ‘If you had a magic wand, what would you change?’ I am getting some really good ideas for ‘no regrets moves,’ both large and small, on which we could act.”
