An aerial view of Virginia Military Institute. (Courtesy of Virginia Military Institute)
The Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors named Brigadier General Dallas Clark acting superintendent Saturday afternoon, but didn’t set a firm date for when a new superintendent will be selected. It’s the first significant decision the school has made concerning its leadership since the board drew scrutiny for opting not to extend the contract of the institution’s first Black superintendent in February.
Clark, a graduate of VMI, has been working with the institution intermittently as the institute planning officer and deputy superintendent for finance and support at VMI, overseeing several offices, including finance and budget, auxiliary services, and facilities management.
Clark’s appointment comes after the board launched a search for a new superintendent following its vote against offering an extension past June to Ret. Major General Cedric Wins, the first Black superintendent. The institution desegregated in 1968.
The board cast the controversial 6-10 vote without any reasoning, saying only it was “supremely grateful” for Wins’ service after being appointed superintendent in 2020, when the institution was facing public allegations of racism. The Washington Post first reported the accusations, and a state-commissioned investigation later confirmed deep-rooted racial and gender disparities at the school.
A resolution read by the board stated that Wins assumed the duties of superintendent “amid a tumultuous time.” Still, VMI successfully navigated “a worldwide pandemic, social unrest, and a decade-long decline in admissions applications under his leadership,” the resolution stated.
Highlights of Wins’ tenure included the school receiving the second-largest number of applications in the institution’s history and increasing state funding and major funding for capital projects.
Tensions between the superintendent and some of those connected with the institution escalated in 2022 when Wins requested funding to expand Title IX and bolster diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. His effort ignited backlash from a faction of alumni, parents and students tied to the Spirit of VMI PAC, a political action committee that urged supporters to “reject the woke assault on VMI.”
Wins did not comment immediately after the Feb. 28 vote but later defended his leadership, opining that his tenure ended because of “bias, emotion and ideology” rather than sound judgment.
A class of 1986 graduate, Vince Allen, commended the board on Saturday for rolling back the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
“The BOV has displayed great courage in facing political pressure in trying to undo the damage done to VMI,” Allen said. “I encourage continued effort to restore the honor, the ideals and traditions of VMI.”
Other speakers, including class of 1975 graduate Ronald Norman, expressed disappointment with the board’s decision against Wins, who “did nothing, but great things for this institute,” Norman said.
“Like some, maybe you blame him for things that occurred even before he got here, if so, odds were stacked against him from day one, no matter how great his performance,” Norman said. “Did this board make fair and impartial decisions for the good of VMI, or were they personal and hidden agendas?”
Cadet Isaiah Glover said Wins inspired him to attend VMI after watching his 2021 Business Insider interview, and experiencing the “inclusive culture” through sports and the various programs. He hoped VMI would be “just as inclusive” for future cadets.
Thomas Gottwald, interim board president, did not respond to comments about Wins, but commented on Glover’s remarks about inclusion.
“I’ll tell you, sir, that there’s not a person on this board that doesn’t share your desire to have an inclusive culture here at VMI for everyone,” Gottwald said. “The proof’s in the pudding. So, I’m telling you you can judge it by our actions.”
As of April 22, the superintendent search committee learned around 35 people have expressed interest in becoming the next superintendent.
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