Former Wyoming Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney has accepted a position as a professor of practice at the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Center for Politics.
Cheney took the university position after leaving Congress in January after losing to her Republican primary opponent in the 2022 election. According to the university, Cheney’s appointment is effective immediately and will last until the end of the 2023 fall semester with an option to renew.
“Preserving our constitutional republic is the most important work of our time, and our nation’s young people will play a crucial role in this effort,” Cheney said, upon accepting the position. “I look forward to working with students and colleagues at the center to advance the important work they and others at the University of Virginia are doing to improve the health of democracy here and around the world.”
Cheney will participate in UVA-wide lectures, serve as a guest lecturer in student seminars with other faculty of UVA’s Center For Politics, contribute to the center’s research, and participate in other university events.
Cheney had drawn the ire of many in her party for her opposition to former President Donald Trump. Cheney was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on charges he incited an insurrection with his election fraud claims, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol. Cheney went on to serve as one of the only two Republicans on the Democrat-controlled House Jan. 6 Committee, while then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rejected Republican committee picks who had favored Trump’s innocence in the impeachment case.
Following Cheney’s rift with Trump and the broader Republican conference, the former president endorsed Harriet Hageman to challenge Cheney in the Wyoming House Republican primary. Hageman defeated Cheney by more than 37 percentage points in the primary before winning the statewide election.
UVA Leaders Praise Cheney
Leaders at UVA lauded Cheney for her political record as they welcomed her to the school.
“Our students will have an incredible opportunity to learn from Liz Cheney, who has fiercely defended democracy as part of a distinguished career,” said UVA President Jim Ryan. “I’m delighted that she has chosen the University of Virginia and the Center for Politics as a next step, and I very much look forward to working with her.”
By Ryan Morgan
