WVSU President Resigns, Board Begins Replacement Search

Last Updated on December 24, 2015

President Brian O. Hemphill speaks at the Alumni Forum taking place this afternoon as part of Homecoming activities on campus.
President Brian O. Hemphill speaks at the Alumni Forum taking place this afternoon as part of Homecoming activities on campus.
On December 21st, the West Virginia State University Board of Governors (WVSU BOG) launched a Presidential Search for the University’s 11th President.

During an emergency meeting, the Board appointed a Presidential Search Advisory Committee which will be led by Board Members William Lipscomb and Gail Pitchford as Co-Chairs. The Presidential Search Advisory Committee includes the following members:

Member Title
Dr. Jonathan Eya
Faculty Representative
Professor
Department of Biology
Melvin Jones
Administrative Representative
Vice President for Business and Finance
Mark Kelley, Esq.
WVSU Foundation Representative
Attorney, Ray, Winton and Kelley, PLLC
Paul A. Konstanty, Esq.
Vice Chair, BOG  
Member Attorney
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
William Lipscomb, Co-Chair

Secretary, BOG

Program Manager
KISRA Second Chance Re-Entry Mentoring ProgramPresident
National “W” Club Alumni Association
Charles Patton
Community Representative
President & COO
Appalachian Power
Earon L. Payton II
BOG Member
Student Representative
Communications Major
E. Gail Pitchford, Co-Chair
BOG Member
President
Charleston Area Medical Center Foundation
Dr. Tim Ruhnke
Faculty Representative
Professor
Department of Biology
Dr. Lateef Saffore
Alumni Representative
Senior Research Technologist
The Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Ann Brothers Smith
Chair, BOG
Retired Educator
Daisy Squirts
BOG Member
Classified Staff Representative
Academic Assistance Counselor
Office of Counseling and Academic Support Services
Diane Strong-Treister
Community Representative
President
Manpower
Tom Susman
BOG Member
President
TSG Consulting
Dr. John F. Thralls
BOG Member
Retired Higher Education Administrator
Leon Vincent Williams, Esq.
BOG Member
Attorney at Law
Dr. Paul Hill
Ex-Officio
Chancellor
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission


In accordance with WVSU BOG Policy 61 and the WVHEPC Title 133, Series 5, Section 2.2.2, the Board has set a tentative timeframe to have a new president by July 1, 2016.  The Board also discussed the development and adoption of a search procedure, which requires WVHEPC approval.

“The presidential search and selection process is of the utmost importance as we seek to continue growth and expansion across so many levels of the University,” said Dr. Ann Brothers Smith, WVSU BOG Chair. “On behalf of my fellow Board of Governors members, I want to express my sincere gratitude to President Brian O. Hemphill for his exemplary leadership and for his willingness to assist the Board in selecting a successor of equal quality and caliber.”

Last week, President Hemphill announced he will leave the University effective June 30, 2016.

Letter of Resignation from WVSU President Hemphill
Message from President Hemphill

About West Virginia State University

West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi-generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service, and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.

Follow West Virginia State University on Facebook and Twitter @WVStateU.

Source: West Virginia State University

Scroll to Top