VMI Board Holds Line On Tuition
Brig. Gen. Dallas B. Clark has been named acting superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute.
The board of visitors voted to appoint Clark, currently the school’s deputy superintendent for finance and support, during its spring meeting held last Thursday through Saturday in Lexington.
Clark will assume leadership on July 1, following the departure of Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85. He will serve in the acting role until a permanent superintendent is named. A search is underway, led by an ad-hoc committee of the board in partnership with executive search firm Buffkin/Baker.
In other action, the board approved tuition and fees for the 2025–2026 academic year. Tuition will remain flat, while auxiliary fees will increase by 3%.
See VMI page B14 “We want to ensure that VMI stays affordable and continues to offer great value for an excellent education,” said interim board President Thomas E. “Teddy” Gottwald ’83, noting the financial pressures of statemandated employee pay raises and health insurance cost increases.
The board also elected new officers who will begin their terms on July 1. Retired U.S. Army Col. James P. “Jamie” Inman was selected as the next board president. C. Ernest Edgar IV ’87, Kate Todd, and outgoing president Gottwald will serve as vice presidents. J. Conrad Garcia was named the non-alumni member of the board’s executive committee.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as the next president of the board,” Inman said. “I look forward to working with the board and the new superintendent to continue VMI’s mission of educating future leaders.”
Before the closing of the meeting, the board passed a resolution of appreciation for. Wins, who has led the school since 2020 and was the first African American to hold the superintendent role. He was formally named superintendent emeritus in recognition of his service.
Clark, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, graduated from VMI in 1999 with a degree in economics and business, later earning an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. After working in the private sector, he returned to VMI to join the Alumni Association and later transitioned into administrative leadership.
Clark has overseen key institutional functions including strategic planning, budgeting, auxiliary services, facilities, emergency preparedness, and the VMI museum system. He has also held leadership positions in local civic organizations and previously served as vice president and chief advancement officer at Southern Virginia University.
Inman is the director of planning and logistics at Afton Chemical Company in Richmond. A 1986 VMI graduate and English major, he served 27 years in the U.S. Army before retiring. His military assignments included commander of the Walter Reed Warrior Transition Brigade and chief of staff for U.S. Army Cadet Command.
His decorations include the Legion of Merit (with two oak leaf clusters), the Bronze Star Medal (with oak leaf cluster), and the Purple Heart. He holds master’s degrees from both the National War College and Louisiana State University and previously served as VMI’s chief of staff from 2013 to 2021.
CLARK
INMAN
