Liz Cheney joins University of Virginia after losing GOP seat to Trump-backed challenger

Former Rep. Liz Cheney speaks during the Washington Post Global Women's Summit at the newspaper's D.C. headquartersin November. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has accepted the University of Virginia's offer to be a professor at its Center for Politics, the school announced Wednesday.

Driving the news: "With democracy under fire in this country and elsewhere around the world, Liz Cheney serves as a model of political courage and leadership," said center director Larry Sabato in a statement announcing the appointment of the fierce Trump critic who served as vice chair of the Jan. 6 select committee investigating the U.S. Capitol riot.

Why it matters: Cheney became a pariah within her own Republican Party for her role on the committee and was removed as the GOP's House No.3 following her repeated criticisms of former President Trump.

• She became last August the highest-profile House Republican to lose their primary to a Trump-endorsed challenger after voting to impeach Trump and had maintained that protecting American democracy was a higher priority than keeping her — something Sabato noted in his statement announcing Cheney's appointment.

What they're saying: "Liz will send a compelling message to students about integrity," Sabato said. "She's a true profile in courage, and she was willing to pay the price for her principles and democracy itself."

Meanwhile, Cheney said in a statement: "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."

Details: "During her tenure at the center, Cheney will participate in University-wide lectures, serve as a guest lecturer in student seminars with Sabato and other center faculty, contribute to Center for Politics research, and participate in other University and community events," per a UVA statement.

• The appointment is effective immediately and will run through the end of the 2023 fall semester with an option to renew, according to the UVA.

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