List of presidents of West Virginia University

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

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

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