The West Virginia University Board of Governors (BOG) has had a tough stretch lately. It shows. Few observers would describe the group as a cohesive team.
The first public crack appeared in February, when the board voted 15-2 to name “Candidate A” as its choice to succeed E. Gordon Gee. That candidate, now publicly known as Dr. Michael Benson, failed to win unanimous support. Bray Cary and Steve Ruby voted no.
Unanimity isn’t required – and often isn’t healthy – but the division only offered a hint of what was coming.
By May 23, Bray Cary openly challenged the integrity of the search process, claiming that Benson’s selection was effectively made behind closed doors.
“Our chairman, Rick Pill, testified before a legislative committee in March that no votes were taken and no decisions were made during the executive sessions of the presidential search,” Cary said. “That statement wasn’t true based on how we selected the president in February.”
That same afternoon, Cary refused to participate in executive session. His fellow board members responded swiftly and forcefully.
“The proper process was followed in the hiring of the 27th president of West Virginia University,” said a joint statement from Chair Rick Pill, Vice Chair Patrice Harris, and Secretary Bob Reynolds. “Claims otherwise are false, inflammatory, and only serve to detract from the important groundwork being laid for the future of the state’s flagship university.
“The comments you reference are from a disgruntled BOG member who, candidly, had backed another candidate.”
That candidate? House Speaker Roger Hanshaw.
MetroNews’ Brad McElhinny reported regarding the 15-2 presidential vote, “discussions in an earlier closed session revealed a much closer split, with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw getting significant support. Sources indicated last week’s vote for BOG chairman reflected that.”
Later, fresh allegations surfaced – this time directed at Cary – suggesting a possible failure to disclose a conflict of interest presumably with Hanshaw.
“If a member of the [search] committee had a current or prior business relationship with a prospect or candidate and did not proactively disclose it, that would be troubling and should be reviewed,” said Patrice Harris, co-founder and CEO of eMed.
The latest development: last week’s election of Rusty Hutson, Co-Founder and CEO of Diversified Energy, as the new Board chair by a vote of 9-6.
Looking ahead, three board members are nearing the end of their terms; Cary, Pill and Alan Larrick. Filling those seats – by reappointment or new appointment – falls to Governor Patrick Morrisey.
From the outside, WVU’s Board is not what management guru Peter Drucker once described as a “tennis doubles team” – an ideal in which each member adjusts to the strengths and weaknesses of their partner and adapts to the evolving game. In Drucker’s 1990s Wall Street Journal piece, he argued such teams fuel real innovation. The WVU BOG is far from that model.
But the stakes couldn’t be higher. The landscape of college athletics is shifting dramatically. Enrollment is declining. Budget pressures are mounting. The university must adapt or risk falling further behind.
Fair or not, Hutson now shoulders responsibility for reshaping the institution’s governing board or making it work. Dr. Benson, while accomplished, is new to WVU. His success hinges on the Board’s willingness to support his vision. That, in turn, depends on Hutson’s ability to unify the board and move past internal squabbles.
Hutson has the credentials. Leading a large public company to success requires decisiveness, vision, and grit. But WVU’s governance comes with a twist: Hutson doesn’t control all the variables. He can’t change the board composition if a member crosses the line of constructive contrarian to destructive detractor.
That’s where Benson’s voice must emerge soon and strong. Like the CEO of a publicly traded firm, he must have the discretion to help shape the board as he enters. That includes working with Hutson and Governor Morrisey to fill or re-appoint upcoming vacancies with members committed to the institution’s future – not tied to old feuds – and the freedom, with the Governor’s backing, to make any board changes he deems necessary, in consultation with Hutson.
Absent the change of buy in or restructuring – probably both – the dysfunction will likely persist. And if that happens, West Virginia University – our flagship, our pride – will pay the price.
That cannot be allowed. Not now. Not ever.
Editor’s Note: Meadows is a WVU graduate.
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