Virginia’s governor-elect, Abigail Spanberger, moved quickly Wednesday to assert influence over higher education in the state, where conservatives have been on a campaign to force colleges and universities to abandon diversity measures.

During the summer, for example, conservative alumni teamed with the Trump administration to force the resignation of James E. Ryan, who was president of the University of Virginia and a proponent of diversity initiatives.

The school’s governing body, the Board of Visitors, has been seeking a permanent replacement for Ryan. But in a letter Wednesday, Spanberger, a Democrat and alumna of the university, asked the board to put off choosing a successor until after she takes office next month and has a chance to fill five vacant seats on the board.

Spanberger

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