Board of Governors

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.

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.

Ongoing strategic investments in student success at West Virginia University are continuing to show results with the University’s Fall 2024 to Spring 2025 projected first-time freshmen retention rate setting a record of 93.8%. The rate was reported during the WVU Board of Governors meeting on Friday (April 4).

West Virginia University Board of Governors Chair Rick Pill joined Vice-Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair Dr. Patrice Harris in submitting the following letter to the WVU community Monday (Feb. 24).

The new president of West Virginia University will bring three decades of academic and administrative experience in higher education to his role leading West Virginia’s flagship, land-grant higher education institution into a new era. 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.

Right on cue, funding is lined up to complete the first phase of a new practice facility for the West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band. The WVU Board of Governors approved approximately $1.6 million for the Pride Practice Field and Facility project during a regular meeting Friday (Feb. 21).

The West Virginia University Board of Governors voted to approve a top candidate to serve as the University’s 27th president during a regular meeting Thursday (Feb. 20) at the Erickson Alumni Center.

West Virginia University Board of Governors Vice-Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair Dr. Patrice Harris submitted the following letter to the WVU community Friday (Jan. 31) after a special BOG meeting.

The West Virginia University Board of Governors met Friday (Dec. 20) kicking off a Commencement weekend of events on the Morgantown Campus.