Virginia State University Fires Six Agriculture Research Experts

Terminations disrupt ongoing studies and raise concerns about academic freedom and job security

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Virginia State University abruptly fired six agriculture research experts from its Agricultural Research Station right before Christmas, sparking outrage from farmers and public workers. The terminated professors, known as the 'Fired Six,' are seeking answers and demanding unconditional reinstatement, claiming wrongful termination and disruption of ongoing studies worth over $10 million in federal and state funding. The university says the terminations were part of 'programmatic adjustments' to align research with strategic goals, but the professors argue the actions violated tenure protections and academic freedom.

Why it matters

The firing of the six agriculture experts at Virginia State University's research station has drawn widespread criticism, as the terminated professors were providing valuable support to small and part-time farmers in the region. The terminations have disrupted ongoing research projects and threaten the survival of some farms that relied on the experts' specialized knowledge and cultural understanding of sustainable agriculture practices.

The details

The six terminated professors, five tenured faculty and one tenure-track assistant professor, say they were abruptly removed from the research station without notice, in violation of procedural protections provided by tenure, VSU's Severance Policy, and the Faculty Handbook. They claim they were pressured to sign severance agreements immediately without adequate time to review the documents or consult legal counsel, and were escorted off campus by university police when they declined to sign.

  • On December 16, 2025, the six professors were called individually into meetings and told their research programs were being sunset and their employment would end immediately.
  • The university's governing board is scheduled to meet on April 23-24, 2026.

The players

Vitalis Temu

One of the six terminated professors, who was working with a local farmer on a project to measure how goats can manage on marginal lands and assess the suitability of the land for forages.

June Miller

A Waverly farmer who was working with Vitalis Temu on the research project before the terminations.

Gwen Williams Dandridge

A spokesperson for Virginia State University, who stated the terminations were part of 'programmatic adjustments' to align research with the university's strategic goals.

Renard Turner

An organic farmer in Louisa County who worked with Virginia State on a university-funded climate-smart program focused on sustainable practices.

Kathy Tran

The House Majority Caucus Chair in Virginia, who is carrying a proposal to repeal a state law that bans collective bargaining for most public employees.

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What they’re saying

“It's not fair, and it's not right. I was looking forward to that project, but I will no longer be able to participate. This isn't right, and I hope Virginia State gets it right.”

— June Miller, Waverly farmer (Virginia Mercury)

“These terminations intentionally disrupted ongoing studies that VSU had already committed to support, thus costing the taxpayers over $10 million in federal and state-funded projects with applications beyond the institution. The terminations raise serious concerns about institutional integrity and set a bad precedent with implications beyond VSU for protections afforded to tenured professors and the guarantees of academic freedom and job security.”

— Vitalis Temu, Terminated professor (Virginia Mercury)

“They come with a cultural knowledge of those animals that gives it more impetus, so they're really an invaluable research source for us. They get it, they understand it.”

— Renard Turner, Organic farmer in Louisa County (Virginia Mercury)

What’s next

The university's governing board is scheduled to meet on April 23-24, 2026, where the terminations and calls for reinstatement are expected to be addressed.

The takeaway

The firing of the six agriculture research experts at Virginia State University has raised serious concerns about the university's commitment to academic freedom, job security for tenured professors, and support for the small and part-time farmers who relied on the terminated experts' specialized knowledge and research. The case highlights the broader tensions between university priorities, funding changes, and the needs of the local agricultural community.