In a unique twist of academic and professional achievement, University of Virginia President, Scott Beardsley, has once again stepped into the role of a student. Just two months after addressing UVA’s Class of 2026, Beardsley graduated from Oxford’s Pembroke College with a Master of Studies in Practical Ethics, specializing in artificial intelligence ethics.
Beardsley pursued his studies at the Uehiro Oxford Institute, part of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education, combining in-person and distance learning. His focus was on the rapidly advancing field of AI ethics, recognizing its significance for current and future leaders at UVA.
His journey began in 2023 while serving as the dean of the Darden School of Business. Beardsley, an advocate of lifelong learning, sought programs that intersected ethics and AI, eventually selecting Oxford for its prestigious reputation and flexible learning format. Notably, this marks the fifth degree Beardsley has earned while maintaining full-time work commitments.
While in Oxford, Beardsley explored UVA’s collaborative initiatives with the historic university, engaging with students from the UVA in Oxford program. These students, in their second week, shared their academic experiences and cultural outings, including visits to the Globe Theatre and Blenheim Palace.
Beardsley’s Oxford visit also included discussions with Rotary Scholar Owen Selden and Marshall Scholar Catherine Cossaboom, who are pursuing their own advanced studies at the university.
The timing of Beardsley’s studies coincided with the release of new generative AI models, like ChatGPT, prompting him to explore the regulatory landscape of AI. His dissertation posed a provocative question: Should AI be regarded as a legal stakeholder akin to corporations? Engaging with this theme, Beardsley drew from stakeholder theory, ultimately arguing against treating AI as legal persons due to potential complexities and ethical concerns.
“AI is a tool that should have an objective function that benefits humanity, not the other way around,” Beardsley emphasized. He envisions the new LaCross Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Business at UVA as a platform to further explore these ethical dimensions.
Reflecting on his Oxford experience, Beardsley noted the institution’s emphasis on critical debate. Students are encouraged to consider multiple perspectives on ethical issues, reinforcing the value of diverse viewpoints in academic discourse. “Whatever point of view you have, you have to define your terms and think through the opposite point of view,” he stated, highlighting the relevance of such an approach at UVA.
Beardsley’s commitment to integrating diverse perspectives into education aligns with UVA’s ongoing efforts to foster a rich and inclusive academic environment, drawing parallels to the Socratic method practiced at the Darden School of Business and the School of Law.
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