List of presidents of West Virginia University

President of West Virginia University
Incumbent Michael T. Benson since 2025
Appointer	West Virginia University Board of Governors
Formation	1867
First holder	Alexander Martin (1867–1875)
Website	Office of the President

This list of presidents and principals of West Virginia University includes all who have served as president of West Virginia University. ^[1]

Presidents

• Alexander Martin, 1867–1875 ^[2]
• John Rhey Thompson, 1877–1881
• William Lyne Wilson, 1882–1883 ^[3]
• Eli Marsh Turner, 1885–1893
• James Lincoln Goodknight, 1895–1897
• Jerome Hall Raymond, 1897–1901
• Daniel Boardman Purinton, 1901–1911
• Thomas Edward Hodges, 1911–1914
• Frank Butler Trotter, 1916–1928
• John Roscoe Turner, 1928–1934
• Chauncey Samuel Boucher, 1935–1938 ^[4]
• Charles Elmer Lawall, 1939–1945
• Irvin Stewart, 1946–1958 ^{[5] [6]}
• Elvis Jacob Stahr, 1959–1961 ^[7]
• Paul Ausborn Miller, 1962–1966
• James Gindling Harlow, 1967–1977
• Gene Arthur Budig, 1977–1980
• Harry Bruce Heflin, 1981
• E. Gordon Gee, 1981–1985 ^{[8] [9]}
• Diane L. Reinhard, 1985–1986 (Interim)
• Neil S. Bucklew, 1986–1995
• David C. Hardesty, Jr., 1995–2007 ^{[10] [11]}
• Mike Garrison, 2007–2008 ^{[12] [13] [14]}
• C. Peter Magrath, 2008–2009 (Interim) ^[15]
• James P. Clements, 2009–2013 ^{[16] [17]}
• E. Gordon Gee, 2014–2025 ^{[8] [9]}
• Michael T. Benson, 2025–present

See also

• List of people from Morgantown, West Virginia
• List of West Virginia University alumni

References

1. "WVU Presidents". West Virginia University . Retrieved July 30, 2024.
2. Sullivan, Ken. "Alexander Martin". The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
3. "WILSON, William Lyne, 1843 – 1900". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
4. "Chauncey Samuel Boucher". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. October 3, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
5. Flannery, Gerald V. (1995). Commissioners of the FCC, 1927-1994. University Press of America. ISBN   9780819196699 . Retrieved July 30, 2024.
6. Barnes, Bart (December 27, 1990). "Obituaries". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
7. "Education: Heavyweight Champion". Time. May 11, 1962. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
8. "Gee appointed West Virginia University president -- for a third time". WVUtoday. March 3, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
9. "Board names Gordon Gee as WVU president". Charleston Daily Mail (Press release). Morgantown, WV. Associated Press. March 4, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
10. "Faculty | College of Law | West Virginia University" . Retrieved July 30, 2024.
11. "David C. Hardesty Jr". www.be.wvu.edu. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
12. "WVU President Resigns Over Degree Scandal - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. June 6, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
13. Pace, Fred (June 7, 2008). "Garrison to step down as WVU president". Times West Virginian. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
14. BONE, TOM (June 19, 2008). "A lesson to be learned: What Mike Garrison could have said but didn't". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
15. "Binghamton University – News and Events: Inside: News and Notes". Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
16. "President James P. Clements, Ph.D. - Biography". Clemson University. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
17. Lammers, Carlee (June 14, 2024). "Clements to leave WVU after 4 and a half years, will become Clemson University's 15th president". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved August 10, 2024.