Mike Garrison
As West Virginia University’s 22nd president, Mike Garrison is committed to WVU’s key missions—changing lives and providing opportunities to all through education; building knowledge through research; and serving the people of West Virginia through economic development and health care.
He became president on September 1, 2007. In his first year, he has devoted much of his time and effort to strengthening WVU’s ability to fulfill these missions.
High-profile recognition for outstanding WVU programs and students has reaffirmed WVU’s academic excellence. WVU’s rural medicine program ranks in the top 10 nationally according to U.S. News & World Report, and students such as Emily Calandrelli, WVU’s 19th Truman Scholar, and Emily Renzelli, who received an honorable mention on USA Today’s All-USA College Academic Team, are demonstrating that WVU students can start fulfilling their dreams even before they graduate.
WVU has also continued to increase its national prominence in research, becoming the FBI’s lead academic partner in biometrics research. In addition, WVU joined an international group of universities, industry experts, government partners, think tanks and others that will advance research and training on border issues that affect national security. Garrison serves on the board of a new partnership with the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie-Mellon University to conduct $26 million in research aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of fossil fuels and reducing their environmental impact.
To support WVU’s educational and research programs, he has sought to increase private giving to the University. WVU received the largest single gift in its history, a $25 million donation from Jo and Ben Statler, to support breast cancer research and treatment, other Health Sciences programs, the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, and WVU Athletics. Garrison also successfully advocated for West Virginia to create a new research trust fund – Bucks for Brains. The fund will make $35 million available to WVU if it can match the appropriation, dollar-for-dollar, with donations from alumni, corporate supporters, and foundations.
Garrison’s leadership style is collaborative, and he believes in listening to students, faculty members, employees, parents, and community members who care deeply about WVU’s future. At a series of forums held across the state and through his blog, he has exchanged ideas with thousands of people and incorporated many of their suggestions into his plans.
For example, to help attract and retain faculty, staff, and students to campus, he introduced plans for a campus child care center (an effort spearheaded by his wife, Heather), established a dual-career program for faculty, and worked with the University’s Board of Governors to enact the largest faculty and staff pay raise since 1993.
Garrison also helped to create an even healthier, safer, and more environmentally sustainable campus for students and employees. He appointed a student health action group and launched a campuswide Wellness Program; introduced a multi-faceted campus safety initiative, including a text-alert system and increased student walking patrols; and announced the debut of a sustainability program to promote environmentally friendly practices at the University.
Garrison has enhanced WVU’s nationally recognized First-Year Experience by breaking ground for a new Honors College residence hall and expanding WVU’s residential college program, which enables students to live in a small but diverse and intellectually stimulating learning community.
Garrison developed his approach to leadership during his career as an attorney and a respected public servant.
He was immediate past chair of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission when elected to the WVU presidency April 13, 2007, by the WVU Board of Governors.
Garrison was also managing member of the Morgantown law office of Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC. Prior to joining the Charleston-based law firm in 2003, he served as former Governor Bob Wise’s chief of staff and as cabinet secretary in the West Virginia Department of Tax and Revenue.
He is a member of the WVU Alumni Association National Board of Directors, and has served as an adjunct professor of political science in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences for the past few years.
A West Virginia native, and a member of the first generation in his family to graduate from college, Garrison earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and English from WVU in 1992 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the WVU College of Law in 1996. He also studied for a year at Oxford on a Rotary International Scholarship.
During his undergraduate career at WVU, Garrison was elected Student Body President. He was also a member of Mountain Honorary and captain of the Men’s Rowing Team.
He is married to Heather Malone Garrison, also an attorney and a three-time WVU graduate. They have two daughters, Julia Grace and Gabriella Malone.