A senior executive who has spent the past 14 years in progressive roles at the West Virginia University Foundation has been named the organization’s new vice president and chief financial officer/treasurer. Melissa L. Simpson will begin her new position July 1.
Continuing a West Virginia University tradition, Reese Allen — a senior mechanical engineering and data science major in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources — officially began his duties as the 72nd Mountaineer mascot during a symbolic rifle passing ceremony at the Mountainlair on Friday (April 17).
West Virginia University continues to operate on solid financial ground with a “stable outlook,” according to the three largest credit rating agencies. President Michael T. Benson reported positive ratings from S&P Global, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s during Friday’s (April 17) Board of Governors meeting.
Adding a key member to his core leadership team, West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson is announcing the hiring of Chris Kabourek, who will bring nearly 30 years of significant fiscal experience in higher education to the role of vice president and chief financial officer. Kabourek most recently served as senior vice president for administration and planning at The Ohio State University.
Highlighting the importance of exemplary academics and dedicated service, West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson has chosen Syd Peng to be the recipient of the first Presidential Honorary Degree he will bestow. Peng has served as the Charles E. Lawall Chair of Mining Engineering Emeritus in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources since his retirement from the University after nearly 40 years of service.
Eight West Virginia University graduate students are pursuing research and discovery to solve real-world challenges with support from WVU Foundation scholarships. The merit-based scholarship awards help students defray education and research costs as they complete their theses and dissertations.
Clayton Thyne, an experienced administrator, researcher and educator will join the West Virginia University leadership team as the inaugural Linda and Don Brodie Dean of the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest academic unit.
Combining expertise with community involvement, West Virginia University is leading a statewide effort to bring data, transparency and accountability to the allocation of nearly three-quarters of the $1 billion in West Virginia’s opioid settlement funding.
Supporters of West Virginia University made a record number of gifts and contributed more than $22 million during the University’s ninth Day of Giving Wednesday (March 25). Every state was represented on the donor map.
West Virginia University will use additional state funding included in the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget by Gov. Patrick Morrisey and members of the Legislature to invest in its people and programs.