After several days of meetings that began Friday, the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors selected new leadership. It also voted in an acting superintendent to replace Major General Cedric Wins whose contract was not renewed earlier this year after criticism of DEI initiatives he supported.
The meetings were Wins’ last. Brigadier General Dallas Clark was selected to replace him on an interim basis as the board continues its search for a permanent superintendent.
James Inman, a Younkin appointee, was also voted in as the new Board of Visitor's president.
At an April board meeting, Wins — the first black person to hold the superintendent spot — said incoming leadership would have an important task in selecting his successor.
During a Monday interview with Radio IQ, he explained further.
We ought to put less emphasis on the dynamics that are affected by race and identity politics and those types of things and understand that, demographically, society is shifting," Wins said. "And VMI provides a great educational opportunity for any demographic.
Wins said he doesn’t know what’s next, though he’ll be taking some time off to consider his future.
During the multi-day meeting, the board also discussed VMI’s fiscal year 2026 budget and decided to increase fees by three percent. Even with that change, the school anticipates an operating deficit of $2.3 million.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.