Land-Grant Engagement

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.

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.

Making a discovery with the potential for innovative applications in pharmaceutical development, a West Virginia University microbiology student has found a long sought-after fungus that produces effects similar to the semisynthetic drug LSD, which is used to treat conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction.

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.

West Virginia University is part of a global effort to spark curiosity and inspire creativity in young learners and their families during the Remake Learning Days festival which runs from May 17-25.

Sharing their knowledge with global audiences, West Virginia University experts have reached more than 10 million news readers through a partnership with The Conversation U.S., a nonprofit, independent publisher of explanatory journalism.

To help farmers and ranchers incorporate agritourism into their business models, a West Virginia University researcher will be coordinating with a team of national experts to develop guidelines for generating agritourism revenue.

Supporters of West Virginia University donated a record $46.2 million Wednesday (March 26) during the University’s eighth Day of Giving. More than 10,300 gifts were made during the 24-hour online fundraising event held across the University system, also a record. The $46.2 million figure tops 2024’s WVU Day of Giving record of $30.4 million raised from over 8,500 gifts.

Participants in Wednesday’s (March 26) Day of Giving at West Virginia University will have multiple opportunities to boost the overall impact of their gifts through hourly and all-day challenges.

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.