"Gov. Abigail Spanberger has named a slate of new appointees to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors less than two weeks after university President Tim Sands announced plans to step down in the coming months — and amid rumblings that the Republican-dominated board might rush to replace him before Democratic appointees could reshape its membership.

Rector John Rocovich, the leader of the board, said during last week’s board of visitors meeting that he had asked Spanberger if there was anyone she’d like to see on the search committee.

Just days later, her office announced four appointees.

'I look forward to having these highly qualified leaders included on the search committee as Virginia Tech works to identify a successor to President Sands,' Spanberger said in a statement Monday. 

Spanberger made her elections 'well in advance of July 1 because Rector John Rocovich has committed to placing her appointees on the university’s presidential search committee,' according to the governor’s news release," reports Cardinal News.

Photo: Burruss Hall at Virginia Tech. Photo by Dwayne Yancey.