President Beardsley Talks Tennis, Alaskan Memories, and UVA

In the blink of an eye, UVA’s newest president is in the midst of his first full year on the job. President Beardsley has served UVA in various capacities for over 10 years and counting, now pursuing initiatives across grounds, including “Grounds for Conversation” and the launch of the Strategic Planning Committee. But behind every individual’s professional accomplishments is a full personal life. In this exclusive interview, the University’s tenth president — an avid tennis player, long-time Alaskan resident, and sports fan — sits down with The Jefferson Independent to discuss the things that make him Scott Beardsley.

How do you like to start your day?

I am a big coffee fan, so every day starts with a couple of cortados. I usually feed our dog, Lawnie, and catch up on the news, in particular news of UVA and my favorite sports teams, before walking from Carr’s Hill to Madison Hall to start my day. It’s a short commute, but the view can’t be beat, seeing the Rotunda every morning.