Alumni

Michael T. Benson, the 27th president of West Virginia University, never planned on trading beach breezes for the hills of Morgantown. But life — and leadership — has a way of pulling people toward places where they’re most needed. He has already begun to fully immerse himself in campus life, with plans to meet as many members of the WVU community and residents of the Mountain State as possible in his first few weeks on the job.

Four West Virginia University alumni and one current student are the newest members of the WVU Alumni Association Board of Directors following their election during the Association’s annual business meeting.

J. Wayne Richards will serve a two-year term as chairman of the West Virginia University Foundation Board of Directors. The 1981 mining engineering alumnus is president and CEO of GR Energy Services based in Sugar Land, Texas.

Joining ongoing flood relief efforts, West Virginia University students and staff traveled to flood-ravaged areas of Wheeling and Fairmont Thursday (June 19) to support cleanup efforts and distribute donations to those in need.

West Virginia University has released its Spring 2025 Dean’s and President’s lists, along with the complete list of spring semester graduates.

Making strategic investments while addressing increasing costs, the West Virginia University Board of Governors approved a $1.2 billion financial plan for Fiscal Year 2026 during a Friday meeting (June 13), which was the last for outgoing University President Gordon Gee.

In recognition of their loyalty and service to West Virginia University, five Mountaineers will be inducted into the Order of Vandalia during a Friday (June 6) ceremony. The 2025 inductees are Judge Irene Berger, Dr. John Brick, Tom Jones, Ken Kendrick and Carolyn Long.

West Virginia University students pursuing degrees in education, engineering, nursing and oral health care will benefit from a generous alumni couple’s planned gifts totaling $2 million.

Three recent West Virginia University graduates will spend an immersive summer abroad studying foreign languages as recipients of the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship.

Marking a Mountaineer milestone, West Virginia University President Gordon Gee and other distinguished speakers delivered inspiring messages on the power of perseverance during times of change to thousands of University graduates during nine Commencement ceremonies this weekend (May 16-18) at the Coliseum.