Message to All Faculty from  Interim Provost Brie Gertler, December 2025

Dear Faculty Colleagues,

As we close the books on 2025, I am writing with a final note of appreciation for all that you do for the University. Each day, stories of your work and achievements appear in my inbox through various communications and come up in my conversations with deans and other leaders. While the University has faced serious challenges this year, the steady flow of good news about our faculty’s accomplishments has been a continual reminder of our strength. Your creative works, groundbreaking research, and dedication to teaching enrich our academic community and the world beyond our Grounds, and your exceptional clinical care improves countless lives.

As we prepare for the new year ahead, I expect that some of the uncertainties we face as a University will be resolved, though many of the external pressures confronting academia will persist. Regardless of what transpires, we will continue to be guided by an unwavering focus on our mission. We are here to educate students from all walks of life; to advance, preserve, and disseminate knowledge; to innovate; and to provide world-class patient care. You, the members of our faculty, are at the heart of these activities, and your expertise and dedication are the driving force that enables UVA to fulfill its mission.

Timely Updates

Nominate Your Faculty Colleagues

Though the deadline for nominations for Research Awards has passed, I encourage you to consider nominating one or more of your faculty colleagues for Teaching or Public Service Awards to recognize their exceptional contributions.

Digital Accessibility

 Kelly Doney, Emily Springston, and I wrote to you last May about new federal and state requirements for digital accessibility. The deadline for adhering to these new regulations is April 24, 2026. I encourage you to continue to update your course documents and materials, along with websites, social media, and any materials you distribute electronically, to ensure that they meet accessibility requirements. Information and resources for faculty and instructors are available on the Digital Accessibility website. 

The Conversation

 The Provost’s Office sponsors a membership in The Conversation U.S. (TCUS), a nonprofit that publishes articles written by academic experts for the general public which are republished by news outlets around the world. UVA faculty members from across our schools write for TCUS and work with their team of editors on articles about a wide range of topics. If you are interested in sharing your expertise broadly, visit UVA’s Write for The Conversation webpage.

UVA AI Listserv

 Last month, I announced the appointment of faculty co-directors for our AI Research@UVA initiative. The new co-directors have created a moderated mailing list for all UVA events pertaining to AI-related research. Faculty, students, and staff can subscribe by emailing sympa@virginia.edu with Subject: subscribe ailist. Subscribers are encouraged to use the listserv to share announcements of their own events. 

Closing Thoughts

At the end of a busy year, I hope that each of you will find time to rest, be with loved ones, and enjoy a good book. If you are looking for something to read, check out the new and forthcoming faculty titles section of the University Bookstore’s website. I trust that the ideas of your colleagues will inspire you as much as they continually inspire me.