WVSU President Resigns, Board Begins Replacement Search

On December 21st, the West Virginia State University Board of Governors (WVSU BOG) launched a Presidential Search for the University’s 11^th 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.

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.

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Source: West Virginia State University