CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – New UVa President James Ryan has appointed a working group he says will identify key issues for improving the UVa-community relationship. This group has 13 members in addition to 3 co-chairs. Those co-chairs are Charlottesville School Board Chair JuanDiego Wade, UVa Center for Health Policy Director Dr. Michael Williams, and Fountain Fund executive director Erika Viccellio.

On the eve of his inauguration, Ryan has named this group with the goal toward strengthening the University’s relationship with the city, Albemarle County, and the surrounding region. Ryan wants the group to identify the most pressing issues for the community — and explore the best long-term structure for developing solutions, possibly through establishing a council or board.

According to a University of Virginia release, the rest of the group members are:

Elizabeth Beasley, community relations lead at the UVA Health System.

Harold Folley, community organizer for the Legal Aid Justice Center.

Bonnie Gordon, associate professor of music.

Brennan Gould, president and CEO, Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.

Charlene Green, manager, Charlottesville Office of Human Rights.

Denise Johnson, program director, City of Promise.

Mark Lorenzoni, founder, Ragged Mountain Running Shop.

Cristine Nardi, executive director, Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

Louis Nelson, vice provost for academic outreach and professor of architecture.

Ridge Schuyler, dean of community self-sufficiency programs, Piedmont Virginia Community College.

Lorie Strother, SWaM contract administrator at the University.

Barbara Brown Wilson, assistant professor of urban and environmental planning.

Toccara Nelson, UVA School of Law student.

A report to by the group is due to President Ryan in February.