MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University (WVU) Board of Governors (BOG) voted unanimously to extend President Gordon Gee’s contract through June 30, 2025.
BOG Chairwoman Taujna Willis-Miller introduced the motion for the extension following an executive session lasting about an hour.
“With the challenges of the university and higher education in general that we are facing, we feel fortunate to have a president with his tenure and experience to lead us and would like to proceed with the extension,” Willis-Miller said.
Willis-Miller said BOG members thoughtfully reviewed Gee’s performance based on state guidelines. Additionally, the BOG wanted Gee to have the opportunity to continue the repositioning of the university that began in March.
“We were guided by the mandates of the statute, and those include student success, research, health and welfare, and our role in the states’ economic development,” Willis-Miller said.
Gee thanked the board for their vote of confidence and confirmed that the work of translation has been very difficult. While acknowledging the difficulties, Gee credited the executive staff for their unwavering dedication throughout the process.
“I want to express my gratitude to the Board of Governors, not only for their faith in me but for their faith in our team,” Gee said. “We really do have a wonderful team of people that are working very diligently on behalf of the university.”
As the decision is made, programs are being reviewed as part of the transformation, and some emotions are high. Willis-Miller made it clear that the priority for the BOG is to keep the institution relevant and viable for the future.
“As a board, we have to focus on the larger vision and the future of the university,” Willis-Miller said. “We don’t all have to agree, but we do have to move forward.”
Since returning to West Virginia University in 2014, Gee said he has developed a strong connection with the state and has begun to set roots in other parts of the state.
“I just want to say I have bought a home at the Greenbrier. I am a West Virginian by any stretch of the imagination, though I was not born here,” Gee said. “Having traveled this state now for nine years, there’s a real love affair that I have with this state and the people.”
The BOG approved amendments to rules regarding the reduction in force process, the faculty and Classified Staff Severance Package schedule, and will review clinical track and library track faculty for inclusion.
An update on the transformation process can be found here.
The BOG also welcomed Bob Reynolds, namesake of Reynolds Hall, Michael D’Annunzio, president of Beverage Distributors Inc., and Student Government Association President Madison Santmyer, Staff Council Chair Shirley Robinson, serving as classified staff representative, and Faculty Senate Chair Frankie Tack, the new faculty representative, to their first meeting.