‘I'm leaving here with my head held high': community celebration held for outgoing VMI superintendent
LEXINGTON, Va. (WFXR) — First Baptist Church in Lexington hosted a community celebration for outgoing VMI superintendent Major General Cedric T. Wins on Sunday afternoon.
Wins was the school's first African American superintendent and its 15th overall, holding the position since 2021.
A 1985 graduate of the Institute, the community gathered to reflect on Wins' accomplishments across those four years at the helm of his alma mater.
'I'm just a little humbled by it and overwhelmed at the same time,' said Wins. 'I guess it shows that people really do feel like we had an opportunity to make a difference.'
'The community wanted to come together and tell him and show him how much they appreciated him,' said First Baptist Church pastor Rev. McKinley Williams. 'Regardless of a board vote, it wasn't reflective of the community.'
Wins will step away from his post on June 30, after the school's Board of Visitors voted 10-6 against renewing his contract in February.
Following the decision, then board president John Adams released the following statement:
'The BOV is supremely grateful to Major General Wins for his service to the Institute during some very difficult times. The foundation he has provided us will ensure VMI continues to fulfill its vital mission of educating future leaders. We would also like to extend our thanks to Mrs. Cassandra Wins for her support of VMI.'
WFXR reached out to incoming board president Col. James Inman for comment following Sunday's event but have not yet received a response.
The decision to part ways came as a surprise to Wins, who felt he had put VMI on the right track during his tenure.
'Obviously yes, there was some disappointment,' he said. 'But I tend to look at things on the bright side. I'm a half full kind of guy. And I know that when one door closes, another one will open.'
Wins was known for his diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the school, particularly after a state report said VMI failed to address institutional racism and sexism.
His efforts faced pushback from some conservative alumni.
'I'm leaving here with my head certainly held high, feeling as though I was able to accomplish some things in a short period of time,' Wins said.
The Board of Visitors passed a resolution in May granting Wins the status of superintendent emeritus, applauding his work in leading the Institute through the COVID-19 pandemic, reversing declining enrollment trends, and increasing school funding.
VMI's Board of Visitors says it is continuing the search for its next superintendent.
Brigadier General Dallas Clark will replace Wins on July 1 in an interim capacity.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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