CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Jefferson Council (TJC), a nonprofit alumni association formed to preserve the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and the free exchange of competing ideas at the University of Virginia, is pleased to announce exciting changes in executive leadership.
Sam Richardson joins TJC as executive director with over three decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and IT messaging development for Fortune 500 companies. He received his doctorate from UVA and remains in the Charlottesville community where he will partner with TJC’s local members to engage with the broader University community.
Jim Bacon continues in a strong commitment to TJC’s mission, assuming a new role of contributing editor. Leaning into his experience as a top-drawer journalist, Jim will document and expose current events on Grounds so that UVA alumni, donors, students, and faculty are informed and equipped to take action.
“The Jefferson Council is so fortunate to build off the incredible momentum we’ve experienced under Jim Bacon’s leadership and expand our team to include Sam Richardson,” said TJC president Tom Neale. “Sam’s career is defined by a dedication to advancing civil dialogue and competing ideas while confirming long standing American values and cultural traditions. I look forward to partnering with him as we lead Mr. Jefferson’s University into a future of excellence and true intellectual diversity.”
“UVA is at a cultural crossroads,” said Sam Richardson, “and I am honored to be at the helm of an organization that is motivated to guide our beloved university through this moment with excellence and civility. Our members and partners are eager to lead, and I look forward to working alongside them to hold UVA administrators accountable and to champion the best ideas and traditions that make UVA exceptional.”
To learn more about The Jefferson Council, please visit https://thejeffersoncouncil.com/.
Bravo! Great addition as TJC continues to forge ahead!!
Why was Jim demoted?
I was not demoted. I made it clear when I took on the job that it was not going to be forever. I was getting itchy to do more reporting and writing, which I’m good at, and less administering and fundraising, which I’m not good at, and I was the one who suggested the change. Working from my platform at Bacon’s Rebellion (wwww.baconsrebellion.com), I will continue to write about UVA in collaboration with the Jefferson Council. — Jim Bacon
Jim, you’ve been an incredible thought leader for TJC and will continue to be. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to TJC and Mr. Jefferson’s University.
Very happy to see this development at TJC!
Mr. Bacon has done yeoman’s work in this very worthy cause and I am certain with Mr. Richardson’s addition TJC will be even more effective in serving to return UVA to its original intended mission as espoused by its Father. And that being the pursuit of truth, and truth only! Not this current social justice garbage which seeks to destroy and not build up our nation in so many insidious ways!
Bravo!
Thanks to TJC for posting the attached piece from a UVA econ professor who espouses a positive, rational and reasoned outlook for UVA students in line with what I believe Jefferson would feel proud as to current faculty. It is interesting that when it comes to conservative faculty they mostly can be found in the engineering and economics departments. They most know how things work and how markets work such as to engender a mindset as to a flourishing human experience, which is not what all the leftist Marxists hordes of faculty would want.
And this UVA professor also happens to be an immigrant to the US like myself who apparently is grateful for this country.
If the TJC is looking for faculty liaisons through which to effect positive change at UVA I believe it would be worth the effort to contact this professor and others who are like minded. His viewpoint is like a breath of fresh air and bears reposting especially on this day of Final Exercises at UVA. Wahoo-Wah!!!
https://www.thefp.com/p/to-the-class-of-2024-you-are-all-diseased
I meant to add I will never forget having just retired and moved near C’ville in 2013 in order to come back and “drink from the cup of knowledge” my very first UVA event I attended featured a UVA leftist clown, namely Sidney Milkis, in the Department of Politics. A seminar at the Miller Center in which to a group of mostly UVA students he announced “the American Dream is now nothing but a fantasy!”
I was absolutely stunned! As I sat there as an alumnus who came to this country with nothing to now being able to live the American Dream. And he was calling me a fantasy!!! No professor ever voiced such garbage when I was a student in the 1970’s, and to think this is what current students have to listen to!!!
Why on earth are leftist professors at UVA such as Milkis even given employment and financial support, especially by alumni?!
All goes back to Ryan. I still predict he will be gone by the end of next year.
From your words to God’s ears.
This professor is great! Glad he had the courage to speak out and happy he is at McIntire, from where I graduated.
Thank you for correcting my error in having written he was in the econ dept. I was thinking too much of Elzinga. Kudos to McIntire for having this professor on their faculty.