Lori McMahon to Move Into Pavilion X in October

The University of Virginia professor will begin a five-year term as the latest resident of the historic home.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in People

Lori McMahon to Move Into Pavilion X in October

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Lori McMahon will move into Pavilion X at the University of Virginia by the end of October 2026. The Board of Visitors selected the neuroscience professor for the five-year residency.

Why it matters

The residency program is designed to foster closer connections between faculty and students living on the Lawn. McMahon intends to host discovery discussions and teach an Engagements course within her home to educate students about research.

The appointment grants a five-year residency term within one of the nine total pavilions located on the university grounds.

The players

Lori McMahon

She serves as the vice president for research and a professor of neuroscience at the University of Virginia.

Board of Visitors

This governing body is responsible for appointing faculty members to residential pavilions and overseeing university policy.

Ian Solomon

He is a former occupant of Pavilion X who departed his position at the university in August.

The details

McMahon, who currently serves as the vice president for research and a professor of neuroscience, is the first vice president for research to be appointed to a pavilion. She was nominated by the University President and received support from students who submitted letters of recommendation to aid her selection.

Ian Solomon vacated Pavilion X in August 2026.
The Board of Visitors announced the appointment on September 18, 2026.
Lori McMahon will move into Pavilion X by the end of October 2026.

Market Landscape

The appointment follows the long-standing tradition of faculty integration within the university's historical residential pavilion system. This move underscores the institution's commitment to maintaining its unique model of academic and community engagement.

Students residing on or near the Lawn can expect increased opportunities for direct interaction with a senior research leader. The program shift introduces new academic programming, including discovery discussions and formal coursework taught in a residential setting.

The takeaway

This transition highlights the university's ongoing effort to bridge the gap between high-level research and undergraduate education. Residents in the vicinity should anticipate a more active schedule of academic events hosted directly on the Lawn.