Benson ‘all in’ as WVU’s 27th president
President formally inaugurated in Thursday ceremony
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The swearing-in was complete.
Prewritten remarks delivered by a procession of speakers had been delivered and applauded.
Everything was moving with a practiced precision.
And then, for a brief moment, it wasn’t.
There was nobody at the podium. The emcee wasn’t making an introduction or asking attendees to direct their attention this way or that.
It was quiet just long enough to be noticeable.
Michael Benson stood and stepped forward into the spotlight.
“I think it’s my turn,” he said.
Indeed.
On Oct. 15, Benson placed his left hand upon a Bible in the Canady Creative Arts Center and swore to lead the state’s flagship, land-grant institution to the best of his ability as its 27th president – a position he’s held since July 15, 2025.
“This inauguration day comes more than a year into my presidency. Why? Because I wanted to ensure that, when we mark this occasion, we had a clear understanding of where we are, guided by a vision of where we are going with institutional ambition, energy and action,” he said.
Speaking as a faculty representative, Maura McLaughlin, chair of the Eberly College Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the first university researcher selected for the National Academy of Sciences, said Benson’s decision to prioritize planning over pomp did not go unnoticed.
“President Benson arrived at a critical moment for WVU. There is no point in pretending that the past few years have been easy. Faculty morale has been low. Many faculty members have felt undervalued. We haven’t always understood how important decisions were being made, and perhaps most importantly, we haven’t had a clear sense of where we were going. We needed a roadmap,” she said. “So I have to tell you as a faculty member and as a department chair, it was an enormous relief to hear President Benson start talking about strategic planning, and to see that planning take shape in The Strategic Compass.”
A lover and teacher of history, Benson said he doesn’t take lightly the historic responsibility before him. In turn, he explained how Thursday’s ceremony was the culmination of both the vision pursued and challenges met by his academic predecessors, and, pausing to gather his emotions, the sacrifices made by his late parents, both lifelong educators.
“Our collective future hinges on questions that I now ask each of you to consider. Since West Virginia University belongs to West Virginians, what do we, as a public American research university, owe our state? And extending that, what do we owe to the greater nation and world? Those questions will drive our actions for the duration of my presidency,” he said.
“We must weigh the future of this public university, the modern land-grant mission, our contributions to economic infrastructure, and our responsibility to the state, while dealing with demographic disruptions and rebuilding public confidence in universities. These are challenges, not barriers. We will be defined by what we do next.”
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Chief Justice C. Haley Bunn presided over the formal installation oath along with WVU Board of Governors Chair Robert “Rusty” Hutson, who presented Benson with the Presidential Medallion.
“Though he’s not been here long, President Benson, who insists that we call him Mike, possesses the strong work ethic that defines West Virginians. Here, hard work is not some kind of abstract idea, and if you say you’re going to do something, you do it,” Hutson said, offering a quote from WVU legend and NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, who said, “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.”
“Now Jerry, as we all know in this room, he liked to win. So do I. So does Mike Benson,” Hutson said, adding, “No matter the circumstances, Mike, with grit, determination and skill, we’re counting on you to win for West Virginia.”
Much like West’s silhouette is the symbol of the National Basketball Association, Benson noted the Mountaineer mascot is the beloved symbol of the university and the state – the embodiment of West Virginia’s rugged, pioneering spirit.
During his remarks, Benson announced that Roane County artist Jeff Fetty is working on a 20-foot-tall sculpture of the Mountaineer mascot that will stand in the center of a new park to be located at the corner of Monongahela Boulevard and Patteson Drive.
“As a public university, we dedicate ourselves to earning public trust. Public trust is earned through public value. Through our work, we will give people reasons to believe in higher education. That means focusing on affordability, student outcomes, research that improves lives, responsiveness to communities, transparency, and visible service,” Benson said. “The work we do is evidence of the value of West Virginia University to West Virginia. In this time of great challenge and rapid evolution, we must apply our mission to defining the modern land-grant university.”
Benson said the university must not shrink away from its ambitions but be bold in its pursuits.
He said he’s ready to lead that charge.
“My fellow Mountaineers, every epic requires a fresh start. Our fresh start is today. The work to take West Virginia University to places it’s never been before begins now,” Benson said.
With that, he lifted a hat emblazoned with the “Let’s Go!” cheer from the podium and put it on, mimicking an athletic recruit announcing their collegiate decision.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have made my choice. I’m all in and I have signed with West Virginia University.”