Ten Fundamental Principles for the Next President
(Standing among the Pantheon of Washington and Lee University leaders are many former presidents, including [from left to right] Fred Cole, Bob Huntley, Francis Gaines, and, of course, Robert E. Lee. W&L’s 28th president should emulate the characteristics of these leaders, as well as the ennobling association of President George Washington. | Source: The Generals Redoubt, AI-generated)
Washington and Lee University Presidential Search:
Candidate Criteria, as Suggested by The Generals Redoubt
January 20, 2026
Since its founding as Liberty Hall Academy in the fevered years preceding the American Revolution, Washington and Lee University has been animated by enduring principles: liberty rightly understood, personal integrity, rigorous education, and a distinctive sense of honor. Across more than two centuries, the institution has been shaped not only by these ideals, but by a succession of presidents whose leadership reflected them in practice.
From Reverend William Graham guiding the school through the Revolutionary era, to Robert E. Lee reimagining and strengthening the institution in the moral and material aftermath of the Civil War, to Dr. Francis Gaines providing steady stewardship during the Great Depression and World War II, and more recently to Presidents Cole, Huntley, and Wilson, Washington and Lee has been well served by leaders of uncommon seriousness, prudence, and character. These presidents did not seek to reinvent the University according to passing fashions; rather, they strengthened its identity, broadened its appeal, and positioned it to flourish amid national change.
As the University undertakes the search for its 28th President, members of the Washington and Lee community have a responsibility to articulate the qualities that will best preserve and advance this legacy. With respect for differing perspectives and an abiding commitment to the institution’s long-term health, we offer the following ten guiding principles for consideration:
1. Master of History
The candidate should possess a deep knowledge of, and respect for, Washington and Lee’s history, values, and traditions, including the Honor System in its present form and the University’s namesakes and their historical legacies. An effective president understands that institutional memory is not a burden to be managed away, but a foundation on which trust and continuity are built.
2. Diverse Accomplishments
The candidate should bring broad executive experience and demonstrate success not only in academia, but also in law, business, government, or other fields of high responsibility. Washington and Lee has benefited from leaders such as President Bob Huntley, whose combination of legal practice, business acumen, teaching, and academic leadership strengthened the University’s governance and reputation. Comparable breadth of experience should be strongly valued.
3. Steward of Tradition and Identity
The candidate should understand that Washington and Lee is a classical institution with deep Virginia roots and a national — and increasingly international — reach. The president should seek to strengthen, not dismantle, the University’s distinctive identity, recognizing that clarity of mission is a competitive advantage in contemporary higher education.
This includes resisting ideological frameworks that reduce students and faculty to demographic categories or prioritize political fashion over institutional coherence. At the same time, the candidate should welcome new perspectives and cultural backgrounds, much as President Lee did when broadening the University’s demographic and sectarian appeal following the Civil War. Washington and Lee’s identity is not a barrier to inclusion; it is a source of its growing appeal, particularly as Southern institutions increasingly attract students seeking seriousness, stability, and tradition.
4. Commitment to Civil Discourse and Conduct
The candidate should value all members of the University community as individuals and should foster an environment of mutual respect, reasoned disagreement, and professional conduct. The president must be willing to create and enforce clear standards of civil behavior among students, faculty, and staff: standards consistent with those expected in reputable institutions beyond university life.
5. Viewpoint Diversity in Admissions and Hiring
The candidate should promote genuine viewpoint diversity through merit-based admissions and hiring practices. Washington and Lee should be a place where students feel welcome to express their views openly, engage seriously with those who disagree, and encounter a curriculum that challenges rather than shelters them. Intellectual rigor and open inquiry, not ideological conformity, should guide institutional decision-making.
6. Unimpeachable Integrity
The candidate should demonstrate the highest personal and professional integrity, serving as a visible exemplar of the Honor System’s values. The president must be deeply committed to educating students for lives of purpose, leadership, and achievement, and to maintaining the trust of students, alumni, faculty, and the broader public.
7. Exceptional Communicator and Listener
The candidate should be capable of speaking clearly and confidently about Washington and Lee’s history, mission, and future, and be willing to explain and defend the University’s traditions to all audiences. Equally important, the president should welcome open dialogue with all members of the University community — including those with whom they may disagree — and model the habits of thoughtful listening and principled engagement.
8. Champion of Academic Excellence and the Liberal Arts
The candidate should be committed to strengthening Washington and Lee’s classical liberal arts foundation while ensuring that the curriculum remains intellectually vibrant and responsive to student interests. Rather than dismantling existing programs, the president should work to enrich the curriculum with enduring subjects, attract and retain outstanding scholars, and ensure professors have the resources needed to educate students at the highest level.
Transparency in course offerings and expectations should be encouraged, and student choice should play a significant role in shaping academic pathways. The goal should be a curriculum that is demanding, coherent, and worthy of the University’s reputation.
9. One University, Shared Standards
The candidate should support a unified institutional culture in which the Undergraduate Program and the Law School share core traditions and operating principles. This includes the consistent and uniform application of the Honor System’s historical standards to all students, reinforcing a common sense of responsibility and mutual trust across the University.
10. Prudent Institutional Leadership
The candidate should demonstrate sound judgment in financial stewardship, governance, and long-term planning. Washington and Lee’s strength has long rested on careful management, alumni confidence, and independence of thought. The next president should safeguard these assets, balancing innovation with restraint and ensuring that decisions are guided by the University’s enduring mission rather than short-term pressures.
These principles are offered in a spirit of respect for the presidential search process and with confidence that Washington and Lee’s next president will continue the tradition of leadership that has distinguished the University for generations.
Sincerely, Non incautus futuri,
Steve W. Robinson, ‘72, ‘75L
President
The Generals Redoubt