Wikipedia

List of presidents of West Virginia University

This list of presidents of West Virginia University includes all who have served as president of West Virginia University.[1][2]

President of West Virginia University
since 2025
AppointerWest Virginia University Board of Governors
Formation1867
First holderAlexander Martin (1867–1875)
WebsiteOffice of the President

Presidents

edit
No. Image President Term start Term end Ref.
President of the Agricultural College of West Virginia (1867–1868)
1 Alexander Martin 1867 1875 [3]
Presidents of West Virginia University (1868-present)
2 John Rhey Thompson 1877 1881
3 William Lyne Wilson 1882 1883 [4]
4 Eli Marsh Turner 1885 1893
5 James Lincoln Goodknight 1895 1897
6 Jerome Hall Raymond 1897 1901
7 Daniel Boardman Purinton 1901 1911
8 Thomas Edward Hodges 1911 1914
9 Frank Butler Trotter 1916 1928
10 John Roscoe Turner 1928 1934
11 Chauncey Samuel Boucher 1935 1938 [a] [5]
12 Charles Elmer Lawall 1939 1945
13 Irvin Stewart 1946 1958 [6][7]
14 Elvis Jacob Stahr 1959 1961 [b] [8]
15 Paul Ausborn Miller 1962 1966 [c]
acting Harry Bruce Heflin 1966 1967 [9]
16 James Gindling Harlow 1967 1977
17 Gene Arthur Budig 1977 1980 [d]
18 Harry Bruce Heflin 1981 1981
19 E. Gordon Gee [e] July 1, 1981 June 30, 1985 [f] [10][11]
interim Diane L. Reinhard July 1, 1985 April 14 1986 [12]
20 Neil S. Bucklew 1986 1995
21 David C. Hardesty, Jr. 1995 August 31, 2007 [13][14][15]
22 Mike Garrison September 1, 2007 July 31, 2008 [g] [16][17][18][19]
interim C. Peter Magrath August 1, 2008 June 29, 2009 [20][21]
23 James P. Clements June 30, 2009 December 30, 2013 [h] [22][23][24]
interim E. Gordon Gee [e] December 31, 2013 March 3, 2014 [25]
24 March 3, 2014 July 14, 2025 [10][11][26]
25 Michael T. Benson July 15, 2025 present [27][28]

Table notes:

  1. ↑ Resigned to lead the University of Nebraska.
  2. ↑ Resigned to become United States Secretary of the Army.
  3. ↑ Resigned to become Assistant Secretary for Education in the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare.
  4. ↑ Resigned to lead University of Kansas.
  5. 1 2 Gee is the only person to serve two non-consecutive terms as WVU president.
  6. ↑ Resigned to lead University of Colorado.
  7. ↑ Forced to resigned.
  8. ↑ Resigned to lead Clemson University.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ↑ "WVU Presidents". West Virginia University. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Past WVU Presidents". West Virginia University.
  3. ↑ Sullivan, Ken. "Alexander Martin". The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  4. ↑ "WILSON, William Lyne, 1843 – 1900". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Chauncey Samuel Boucher". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. October 3, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  6. ↑ Flannery, Gerald V. (1995). Commissioners of the FCC, 1927-1994. University Press of America. ISBN 9780819196699. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  7. ↑ Barnes, Bart (December 27, 1990). "Obituaries". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Education: Heavyweight Champion". Time. May 11, 1962. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Harry Heflin Family Papers". West Virginia & Regional History Center.
  10. 1 2 "Gee appointed West Virginia University president -- for a third time". WVUtoday. March 3, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Board names Gordon Gee as WVU president". Charleston Daily Mail (Press release). Morgantown, WV. Associated Press. March 4, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Portrait of Diane Reinhard, Acting President, West Virginia University". West Virginia & Regional History Center.
  13. ↑ "Faculty | College of Law | West Virginia University". Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  14. ↑ "David C. Hardesty Jr". www.be.wvu.edu. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Hardesty announces Sept. '07 retirement". WVUtoday. August 19, 2006. West Virginia University President David C. Hardesty, Jr. announced today (Aug. 19) his plan to retire effective Sept. 20, 2007. At that time, he will have served as the longest permanently appointed president in WVU history.
  16. ↑ "WVU President Resigns Over Degree Scandal - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. June 6, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ Pace, Fred (June 7, 2008). "Garrison to step down as WVU president". Times West Virginian. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  18. ↑ BONE, TOM (June 19, 2008). "A lesson to be learned: What Mike Garrison could have said but didn't". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Mike Garrison: A year in office". The Daily Athenaeum. June 11, 2008.
  20. ↑ "Binghamton University – News and Events: Inside: News and Notes". Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Former NASULGC CEO, University President Magrath named WVU's interim president". WVUtoday. July 8, 2008. C. Peter Magrath, senior adviser to the College Board and President Emeritus of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC), will become the interim president of West Virginia University, effective Aug. 1, and will begin the transition July 15.
  22. ↑ "President James P. Clements, Ph.D. - Biography". Clemson University. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  23. ↑ Lammers, Carlee (June 14, 2024). "Clements to leave WVU after 4 and a half years, will become Clemson University's 15th president". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Clements named WVU's 23rd president; says he can't wait to call Morgantown, WVU home". WVUtoday. March 6, 2009. James P. Clements, current provost and vice president for academic affairs at Towson University in Maryland, was named president-elect of West Virginia University today (March 6) and will become the University's 23rd president, effective June 30, 2009.
  25. ↑ "Gordon Gee to return to WVU as president on interim basis; will retain Ohio, national higher education responsibilities". WVUtoday. December 6, 2013. President Emeritus of The Ohio State University and former West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee was named today as president of WVU, effective in early January.
  26. ↑ Schulz, Chris (June 13, 2025). "WVU Board Of Governors Bids Farewell To President Gee, Departing Members". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. West Virginia University President Gordon Gee will retire from his position July 14 after the board approved a minor contract extension until incoming university President Michael T. Benson takes the role July 15. Gee was originally slated to retire June 30.
  27. ↑ "27th WVU president Michael T. Benson pledges to lead by example and with enthusiasm". WVUtoday. February 24, 2025. Following contract negotiations after the WVU Board of Governors meeting Feb. 20, Michael T. Benson, the current president of Coastal Carolina University, was officially announced Monday (Feb. 24) as the 27th University president. His appointment will begin in July.
  28. ↑ Gilmartin, Tanner (July 15, 2025). "WVU introduces 27th President, Michael Benson". WDTV. West Virginia University's 27th President, Michael Benson, starts his tenure on Tuesday.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_presidents_of_West_Virginia_University&oldid=1326444982"