The New Leader of West Virginia State University

West Virginia State University in Institute, West Virginia, was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute. Beginning in the 1950s West Virginia’s state-operated colleges and universities initiated racial integration and concerted efforts were made to attract White students to West Virginia State. Today, only about 15 percent of the student body is Black. However, the university remains committed to its history as a Black college. All three candidates selected as the finalists for the university’s presidency were African Americans.

On May 9, Brian Hemphill was chosen as the 10th president of West Virginia State University. He will take office in July. He has been serving as vice president for student affairs at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. He has held that post since 2004. Previously, he held administrative positions at the University of Arkansas, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Cornell College in Iowa.

A graduate of St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, Dr. Hemphill holds a master’s degree in journalism from Iowa State University and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Iowa.

Related Articles

1 COMMENT

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Howard University Achieves R1 Status While North Carolina A&T State University Falls Short

Howard University has received the prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification, making the institution eligible for major federal grants. NCA&T University narrowly missed the achievement, averaging just three less annual doctoral graduates than the classification's requirements.

Three Black Scholars Selected for Endowed Faculty Positions

The new endowed professors are Eddie Chambers at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Stefanie Dunning at the University of Rochester in New York, and Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire at Harvard University.

North Carolina Central University Establishes Early Assurance Program With the UNC School of Pharmacy

Students at North Carolina Central University now have the opportunity to apply to an early assurance program for the doctor of pharmacy degree program at the University of North Carolina's Eshelman School of Pharmacy, the top-ranked pharmacy school in the United States.

Five Black Administrators Taking on New Roles at HBCUs

The appointments are Anthony Neal at Florida A&M University, Tara Cunningham at Dillard University in New Orleans, David Camps at North Carolina A&T State University, Michael Meyers at Paine College in Georgia, and Sidney Brown at Tuskegee University in Alabama.

Featured Jobs