Gov. Spanberger Reappoints Four to UVA Board of Visitors for New Terms

The University of Virginia is set to welcome back four familiar faces to its Board of Visitors. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced on Friday that four board members are being reappointed, with their new terms commencing in August.

Reappointed Members

The Honorable Amanda L. Pillion from Abingdon, who serves on the Abingdon Town Council and works as an audiologist, returns to the board. Originally appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin in 2022, Pillion is an alumna of UVA, holding both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education.

Mohsin R. Syed of Arlington, a senior advisor at Westexec Advisors, continues his service on the board. Initially appointed by Spanberger in 2026 to fill a vacant slot, Syed boasts a bachelor’s degree from the College of Arts & Sciences and a juris doctorate from UVA’s School of Law.

Elizabeth H. Hayes, a retired attorney from the prominent firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, also from Arlington, resumes her board duties. She was appointed by Spanberger in 2026 to complete another term. Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s from Emory University and a UVA law degree.

Owen D. Griffin Jr., hailing from Suffolk, serves as the president and CFO of Currie Medical. Appointed by Spanberger in 2026 for a vacant position, Griffin’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from McIntire School of Commerce, a master’s from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and an MBA from the Darden School of Business at UVA.

New Faculty and Student Representatives

The Board of Visitors has appointed Jeri K. Seidman, the Faculty Senate Chair and Paul Goodloe McIntire Associate Professor of Commerce, as the faculty representative for the 2026-27 academic year. Seidman will begin her nonvoting role in July, succeeding James H. Lambert, whose term concludes on June 30.

In a similar capacity, Jackson B. Sleadd, a rising fourth-year student at UVA, has been chosen as the student representative for the 2026-27 academic year. Sleadd’s term started on June 1, following Gregory Perryman, last year’s student representative.

“I extend my congratulations and thanks to the reappointed members of the Board of Visitors, newly appointed faculty representative Jeri Seidman, and student representative Jackson Sleadd, and look forward to working with them to guide and advance the strategic vision of the University,” said University President Scott Beardsley. “Many thanks to outgoing faculty representative James Lambert and student representative Gregory Perryman for their thorough and dedicated work to serve the board on behalf of UVA’s teaching and learning communities.”