New Operating Chief Starts

Like President James E. Ryan (Law ’92), UVA’s new chief operating officer, Jennifer “J.J.” Wagner Davis, has hit the ground running. Currently a Mews resident behind the Pavilions, Davis wakes up before sunrise each morning to run. “The Lawn is a pretty inspiring place to start a run, and I often find myself stopping to take photos because I’m still amazed by the beauty of this place,” Davis says.

Just months into her new role, Davis has spent much of her time in Charlottesville establishing relationships and growing her knowledge of UVA. She arrived at UVA from George Mason University, where she was senior vice president for finance and administration for five years. Davis and her team at UVA manage much of the behind-the-scenes, including safety, HR, finance, IT, capital planning and facilities management. They are also helping to develop the framework of resources to support President Ryan’s strategic plan, which he will present to the Board of Visitors early this summer.