From Golden Sands to Gold and Blue: Meet Michael T. Benson, 27th president of WVU

Michael T. Benson never planned on trading beach breezes for the hills of Morgantown. But life—and leadership—has a way of pulling people toward places where they’re most needed.

Diving into his new role as the 27th president of West Virginia University, Benson stands at the helm of an institution full of promise. His path to the Mountain State spanned four university presidencies stretching from Utah to Kentucky to South Carolina, where he most recently led Coastal Carolina University, a 15-mile drive from Myrtle Beach.

The only thing better than beach life might be becoming a Mountaineer.

When Gordon Gee announced he was retiring from WVU, a few trusted voices planted a gold-and-blue bug into Benson’s ear.

“People were very persistent and said, ‘You really need to look at this opportunity,’” Benson recalled.

He reflected on his career trajectory. Despite a storied, two decades-plus in higher education, WVU had the elements Benson had never yet experienced all at once: an R1 (very high research activity) university with powerhouse athletics and a renowned academic medical center.

WVU checked those boxes.

The chance to lead a flagship, land-grant institution, uniquely West Virginian, felt rare and right.

First Steps

Since arriving in Morgantown, Benson has made it a priority to immerse himself in campus life.

Before his official start date (July 15, 2025), Benson made a few trips to Morgantown. On those days, he’d walk from his hotel to campus as early as 5:30 a.m. to soak in sights like Woodburn Circle and the historical downtown buildings.

It’s a sharp contrast to the flat landscapes of South Carolina, but one he finds invigorating.

“In South Carolina, I can look at one end of campus to the other,” Benson said. “That’s not the case here.”

He plans to hit the ground running and meet as many members of the WVU community and residents of West Virginia as possible. Before the fall 2025 semester, Benson will spend a week traveling throughout the Mountain State.

“We’re West Virginia’s only flagship, land-grant, R1 institution,” he said. “So I want people to think of this as their university. Yes, I’m the president, and, in many ways, the face of the university. But this is their university. It belongs to the people.”

Goals, Grit and Grand Vision

Benson is not one to tiptoe into his new role. His vision for WVU is anchored in three foundational goals:

1. Be Visible and Accessible: “I want to be out and about. I want people to know I’m all in.” He hopes to visit all 55 counties of West Virginia within his first year.
2. Chart a Bold, Proactive Path: With an eye toward enrollment, workforce alignment and resource development, Benson is keen to pivot from reaction to innovation. “We’ve got to be aggressive. Set the tone, not follow it.”
3. Embrace and Learn WVU’s Rich History: As a trained historian, Benson treasures the past. A recent visit to the WVU Library left him in awe of the University’s founding document from 1867. “Now look at us—a nearly $2 billion budget and a $7.5 billion health system.”

Leading with a Shovel

Benson’s leadership style is hands-on—sometimes while wielding a snow shovel. One now-legendary viral moment from his presidency at Eastern Kentucky University involved him responding to a student’s tweet during a massive snowstorm. The student jokingly said he’d come to class if the president helped shovel his driveway. So Benson did just that.

The story went viral. Radio shows called. The Today Show took interest. Tire companies sent snow shovels.

But for Benson, it wasn’t a PR stunt. It was a moment of connection.

“I did it because I wanted to see what the student would do,” he said.

Benson drove 10 miles to the student’s house and started shoveling. The student’s mother came out and “just about fell off the porch when she realized the university president had been summoned by her son.”

A Scholar and a Humanist

Always wanting to lead by example since completing a doctorate in modern history at the University of Oxford in 1995, Benson has earned two more degrees while serving full-time as a university president: his first was a master’s of non-profit administration at the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.

“I recognized the need to take all those classes I avoided as an undergraduate like finance, accounting, statistics and economics,” Benson quipped.

His second was a master of liberal arts from Johns Hopkins University. He’s also published two books since 2017, the first (co-authored with Hal Boyd) on the importance of public higher education to American democracy and the second a biography of Daniel Coit Gilman, the first president of Johns Hopkins University who is widely-considered the architect of the modern American research university. The latter title was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the top higher education books in 2023.

Benson has had faculty appointments with tenure at every school he’s served as president and tries to teach a course each academic year.

His impact also extends beyond the ivory tower through his fundraising efforts everywhere he has been.

At Coastal Carolina, Benson secured the largest donation – $10 million – in school history to support a new medical college.

While at Eastern Kentucky, Benson oversaw $300 million in capital improvements in a five-year period.

But his most cherished project is The Scholar House in Kentucky that offers subsidized housing and childcare for single parents pursuing a college degree.

“Of all the projects I worked on, that had the most profound impact,” he said. “We provided hope and opportunity to single parents and making sure their children are taken care of. Once they graduate, they vacate the housing and make room for the next person.”

The Art of Balance

Don’t be fooled by the academic accolades—Benson’s life is balanced by movement and mindfulness.

A former marathon runner, Benson may have the fastest marathon time of any sitting president of a Power Four institution at two hours and 41 minutes.

He now practices hot yoga to stay grounded post-knee replacement. He swears by its calming effects.

“There’s a lot to be said for stillness and breathing,” he noted. “It helps you slow down. And that’s healthy.”

His downtime is also filled with music. A classically trained pianist, Benson finds solace in the keys of his mother’s seven-foot Steinway Grand piano. Frederic Chopin is his gold standard, though lately, he’s been exploring Franz Schubert’s melodies.

As the youngest of six children, Benson and his siblings were all expected to practice piano.

“The joke in the family was we only had to practice on the days we wanted to eat,” he said. “So there was a really high level of expectation set by my mom, who was a piano teacher.”

The Playmaker

Benson’s metaphor for leadership comes from the basketball court. A former point guard and Oxford Blues player (with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker as a teammate), he draws inspiration from NBA legend John Stockton.

“He would score here and there, but he’s best known as the all-time assist leader,” he said. “You watch him play and can see how he distributed the ball, making his teammates better. The point guard position is similar to being president of a university.

“My job is to put people in the right position. Get them the ball and let them score.”

Rooted in Family

Family remains his compass. His wife Debi, whom he met on a blind date and later lost a game of pool to –guaranteeing a second date, is “the most genuine, caring person I’ve ever met.”

Together, they’ve built a life with three children— Truman, Tatum and Talmage —and a future filled with shared adventure.

Debi’s late father, a two-time kidney transplant recipient and global traveler, modeled resilience that lives on in their family spirit.

“Even after the second transplant, he was determined to visit Antarctica, and he did,” Benson said. “That sense of purpose—it’s contagious.”

Benson has two children from a previous marriage, Emma, a TV reporter in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Sam, a writer for Politico Magazine. Working in media and journalism seems to run in the family, as Benson’s late brother, Steve, was a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist. Benson himself has tried his hand at writing for mainstream outlets as a contributor to The Huffington Post, with essays ranging from college football to the power of education.

The Truman Show

It’s easy to see what historical figure influences Benson from looking at his CV – and the name of one of his sons. He’s written papers, including his dissertation, and a book on the 33rd president of the United States, Harry Truman.

He’ll throw a quote or two your way from Truman if germane to a conversation, including “There’s nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.”

Benson’s fascination with Truman is centered on how people underestimated him, and “they did that at their own peril. He was the only president of the 20th century who did not have a college degree.”

Truman also had a knack for surrounding himself with smart people and those from polar opposite backgrounds, Benson added.

“When he left office, he was at a 23% approval rating, which was four percentage points lower than Richard Nixon when he resigned,” Benson said. “And yet, as time goes by, he keeps going up in the rankings in every list by historians and political scientists.”

Words to the Next Generation

To WVU’s students—current and future—Benson offers timeless advice:

“Own it. What you did in high school is behind you. This is your clean slate. Explore. There may not be a linear line to that degree but enjoy it.

“College is where I learned to become an adult. I learned how to manage my time and get along with other people. I learned how to have a good time.”

He points to the meaning of “alma mater:” “A nurturing mother. This is the place that gives birth to who you’ll become.”