As president of Fairmont State University, I spend a lot of time talking with students and families about what college means for them — for their careers, their finances, and their futures. Those conversations matter. But they are only part of the story. Higher education is not just a private investment. It is a public good; and in West Virginia, that could not be more important.
Last month, I wrote about how grateful Fairmont State University is to the people and organizations that so enthusiastically support our goal of being the bedrock higher education institution for West Virginia. We strive to be the premier public university in the region, and we simply can’t achieve this without buy-in from folks like you. For that, we are profoundly grateful.
Amid disillusionment about the value of higher education, Fairmont State University embraces a new, nimble approach to programming that will serve all West Virginians into the future.
As some of you may recall, when I first arrived on campus as Fairmont State University’s 27th president, my priority was really listening to what the area residents, education and business professionals, legislators, and other university stakeholders had to say about the institution. One of the comments I heard most frequently was that Fairmont State University was the “state’s best kept secret.” Why did they say that?
I love traditions, and as president of Fairmont State University, I’ve been blessed to be a part of countless traditions that are rooted in our campus and broader communities.
Fairmont State is proud to call North Central West Virginia home—we feel a strong “stewardship of place.” This means we actively contribute to the preservation and celebration of regional history and culture. We also strive to contribute to residents’ upward mobility, prosperity, and civic wellbeing. That’s why when we schedule events, we do so with the community in mind.
At the end of July, I fulfilled my promise to visit all 55 counties in West Virginia during my first two years as president of Fairmont State University. Most of the final counties on my list were in the southern part of the state. Traveling through Logan, Mingo, McDowell, Wyoming and several others, I learned a great deal about this incredible state I have the privilege of serving.
Higher education in America faces severe challenges, many unprecedented. Since the pandemic, enrollment nation-wide has dropped by more than a million students, accelerating a decade-long trend. On top of that, we’re approaching a demographic cliff in Fall 2025, and new-student enrollment in American colleges could drop up to another 15%.
When I was hired as Fairmont State University’s 27th President two years ago, I made a commitment: We would not only be a school for the North Central region — we would serve all of West Virginia, and I would visit every county in the state.
Over the past couple of years, Fairmont State University has been working diligently to develop a strategy to guide our actions for the next decade. If you attended my inauguration last year, read my previous op-eds, or watched my monthly videos, you have no doubt heard me speak about our Strategic Vision.
In higher education, competition among institutions is often assumed to be a zero-sum game — one university’s gain is another’s loss. As presidents of two West Virginia public universities, we can tell you that nothing is further from the truth. In fact, we believe that when West Virginia’s higher education institutions work together, the entire state benefits.
Higher education must take the lead in reversing population trends. Fairmont State University is a leader in this area, and we know that we must be proactive if we are going to help the state of West Virginia reach its potential.
Fairmont State University’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the annual Day of Giving, takes place Thursday, February 27. The funds raised support academic programs, student organizations, athletic teams, and student support initiatives.
As I write this message to you, our neighbors, friends, and supporters, Fairmont State University is busy. We’re kicking off our spring semester, and our students and faculty have returned to join staff members who already hit the ground running in 2025.
