MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s former chief of staff has been appointed as a vice president at West Virginia University. WVU President E. Gordon Gee announced the hiring of Rob Alsop Friday.
Gee said Alsop, a Webster Springs native, is replacing Bill Hutchens who recently retired as WVU’s general counsel but the position has been restructured. Alsop’s title is vice president for legal and governmental affairs and entrepreneurial engagement.
“I have been extremely impressed with Rob’s knowledge of and passion for this University,” Gee said in a news release. “Coupled with his background in both corporate and state government work and his love of this state, he will be an asset to our executive leadership team as we continue to grow and transform West Virginia University.”
The restructured position will have Alsop dealing with entrepreneurial and research partnerships while overseeing the university’s legal, state and corporate relations teams.
“I am absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to work with President Gee and his team to move our University forward,” Alsop said in the news release. “I consider it a chance of a lifetime to be a part of the many exciting things happening on our campuses that impact and change lives.”
The appointment drew quick praise from House of Delegates Speaker Tim Miley.
”I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to Rob Alsop for taking on this important, newly restructured role at West Virginia University. Having worked with Rob while he served as counsel to Governors Manchin and Tomblin, as well for the Department of Revenue, I know him to be an outstanding legal mind and a strong negotiator, and have the upmost faith and confidence that he will do a wonderful job. I commend President Gee on his choice, as well as for adding entrepreneurial relations to the position’s job duties, because I believe fostering entrepreneurship is critical to our state’s future. I look forward to working with Rob in his new role, and to continued good relations with the University,” Miley said.
Alsop earned his undergrad and law degrees at WVU. He has most recently been special counsel to the Bowles Rice law firm. Before that he served in various roles in the Manchin and Tomblin administrations including Tomblin’s chief of staff.
Alsop was also a member of WVU’s Board of Governors, a position is he resigned in accepting his new job. The appointment is effective Oct. 27.