Equipped with over 29 years of facilities management experience, Charles “Chuck” Roberts will lead the West Virginia University Facilities team as associate vice president of facilities operations, effective Jan. 12.
Roberts, who has served the University as assistant vice president of Facilities Management since June 2023, currently leads over 450 employees responsible for parking, facilities maintenance, roads and grounds maintenance, and custodial operations across the Evansdale, Downtown and Health Sciences Center areas of campus.
In his new expanded role, Roberts will take on the areas of construction, transportation, sustainability and environmental health and safety. Procurement, Contracting and Payment Services, under the direction of Jeffrey Pratt, now reports to Senior Associate Vice President of Finance Barbara Weiss.
Roberts previously served as the associate vice president for Facilities and Business Services at Tennessee Technological University, overseeing 150 staff members and managing custodial services, facilities maintenance, grounds maintenance, environmental health and safety, sustainability, capital planning, design and construction, and telecommunications.
Prior to his career in higher education, Roberts retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2020 after a distinguished 26-year career, during which he held 17 civil engineer officer assignments, including commanding two squadrons and two groups, and completing deployments to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Roberts holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Engineering and Environmental Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in Military National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.
Roberts takes on this role following former Associate Vice President of Auxiliary and Business Services Ted Svehlik’s departure from the University in September 2024.
He will report to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Paula Congelio.