Monday morning, West Virginia University officially revealed their new president, Michael T. Benson.
Benson has served as president for Snow College, Southern Utah University, Eastern Kentucky University, and is the current president of Coastal Carolina University.
“I am honored to be named president of West Virginia University – one of our nation’s oldest land-grant institutions,” Benson announced. “My 30-year career in public higher education has prepared me for this singular opportunity, and I wish to thank the Board of Governors for the trust they have placed in me and hope to earn that same level of trust and support from the entire WVU community.”
During his time at CCU, the university experienced significant enrollment growth with approximately 20% growth since 2021. Benson was also able to secure a $10 million gift, the largest in school history.
During his time as a student, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his doctorate in modern history from St. Antony’s College, Oxford. He also earned a master’s degree in nonprofit administration at the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in liberal arts from Johns Hopkins University,
Benson is also the author of three books, his most notable being the biography of Daniel Coit Gilman, the first president of Johns Hopkins University.
His extensive resume was enough to land him the job at WVU. He will start his time in Morgantown in July.
Photo courtesy of @WestVirginiaU on X
