An experienced servant leader and higher education administrator with ties to the Mountain State has been named the next president of West Virginia University Potomac State College.
Jerry Wallace, president of Danville Community College in Danville, Virginia, will begin his term as PSC president on Dec. 1.
“I am excited to welcome Jerry Wallace to West Virginia University,” President Gordon Gee said. “He brings with him a unique blend of experience and leadership that will position WVU Potomac State College to grow and better serve students and communities across the Mountain State.”
Wallace has led Danville Community College since 2022. During his tenure, the college has experienced six consecutive semesters of enrollment growth, increased community engagement activities and launched multiple workforce training programs.
Previously, Wallace served as the Nebraska Central Community College Hastings Campus president, leading programs to develop employee-community volunteer programs and an apprenticeship program to provide community members and employers an alternative workforce solution.
“We feel very fortunate to have Dr. Jerry Wallace joining WVU to lead Potomac State College,” said Paul Kreider, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “He is a proven, recognized leader among community college administrators and a passionate community supporter as well. His commitment to building meaningful campus-community connections and improving the student and employee experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow.”
In addition to his roles as a campus president, Wallace served the New River Community and Technical College in Beckley as dean of Workforce, Technical and Community Education from 2017-19. Before that, he was a resident director at WVU Institute of Technology.
“It’s an honor to join WVU Potomac State College and engage with faculty, staff and students,” Wallace said. “I’m excited to be selected to lead PSC and have the opportunity to bring my family back to West Virginia. The PSC culture of a tight-knit learning environment and student-centric programs continues to provide students access to success.”
In 2023, Wallace was named one of the Top 100 People to Meet by Virginia Business Magazine and received the Young Professionals PACE award from the Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, Wallace traveled to New York to receive the 2024 Rising Star Award from the Rural Community College Alliance.
Wallace holds a doctoral degree in leadership and management, a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science. He also completed a second master’s degree, earning his MBA in human resource management with a minor in marketing.
Kreider will end his term as interim campus president at PSC, effective Dec. 1, and will continue to serve WVU as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs in a full-time capacity.
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kb/10/29/24
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