Blog

During the holiday season, we often think about the people who have shaped our lives. We gather to celebrate with some of them, while others loom large in our memories.

From family members and teachers to colleagues and friends, so many people inspire and encourage us to be our best selves.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what is most important. As I spend time with my family this year, I will have much to be grateful for, including the privilege of serving as president of West Virginia University for the past decade.

Spending time with my grandchildren will also turn my thoughts to the future. A Gallup survey last year found a growing number of Americans worry whether today’s youth can expect a high quality of life.

(WVU President Gordon Gee delivered the following prepared remarks in his annual State of the University address on Monday, Oct. 14.)

Today, after more than a decade as president, I have come to address the state of West Virginia University for a final time.

As a land-grant institution, West Virginia University’s purpose is to help people when it matters most. And nothing our university does has a more powerful and direct impact on people than the lifesaving care our health care professionals provide.

Last month kicked off the first day of classes and the beginning of West Virginia University’s fall semester. The start of a school year always represents potential. There is a sense of excitement in the air. Optimism is contagious. There are numerous opportunities to make new friends, try different experiences and continue to develop as a person.

For the last ten years, I have gone on county tours to visit our state’s 55 counties. I believe our campus stretches beyond the physical borders of Morgantown, Beckley or Keyser. Our campus encompasses the entire state, and nothing excites me more than to visit the communities that are proud to call us their flagship university. Alongside graduation and beating Pitt: it is one of those events that never gets old.

“Last” can be defined as a conclusion; a time when things are done. However, as I prepare for my final – or last – year at West Virginia University, I am not focused on concluding my tenure as a university president. Instead, I am focused on ensuring the work we are doing at West Virginia University – to ensure every West Virginian has access to a world-class education, to improve the future of our beloved state and to contribute to our American democracy – will last.

My life’s calling has been to change lives through education. And for 44 years, I have been inspired to work every day alongside others who have shared that calling with me. There is no doubt that higher education is at a pivotal moment today. At such a moment, it is important to remain grounded in the principles that form the foundation for our university.