New Members to the VCU Board of Visitors

Marcus Blackwell
Staff writer

Gov. Terry McAuliffe appointed Ron McFarlane and Carol Shapiro to the 2015-16 VCU Board of Visitors, while choosing not to re-appoint the rector-elect and vice rector-elect to second terms.

McFarlane and Shapiro’s appointments went into effect July 1, a day after the expiration William A. Royall Jr. and Thomas Farrell II’s appointments expired on June 30.

The Board announced on June 16 that John A. Luke Jr. would serve as rector in light of McAuliffe’s decision not to re-appoint Royall to the Board, despite being rector-elect. The 2014-15 rector, William Ginther is still a board member.

Last February, VCU Public Affairs published a media advisory headlined: “William A. Royall Jr. to serve as rector of VCU Board of Visitors.” Royall and Farrell were elected by the Board on May 8 to serve as rector and vice rector respectively, but McAuliffe did not appoint them to a second term.

“The Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors has elected William A.Royall Jr. to serve as rector for the 2015-16 academic year, effective July 1,” read the Feb. 12 press release. “Royall joined the VCU Board of Visitors in 2011 and has served as vice rector since 2013. He also chairs the Governance and Compensation Committee.”

Royall founded Royall & Company in 1983. The company provides direct marketing, student recruiting and advancement services to universities across the country. He sold the company in December 2014 for $850 million, and now serves as company chairman.

Royall is also a VCU alum and president of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ board of trustees. He and his  wife, Pam, serve as co-chairs for VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art fundraising campaign.

In 2012, the Royalls made a $5 million donation to the project, according to the ICA website.

Farrell, who the Board elected vice-rector but was also not re-appointed by the Governor, is chairman, president and CEO of Dominion.