Thanh Le, the director of Student Engagement and Leadership, has been selected for the August Non-Classified Staff Salute.
Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Le has been a valued leader in the Division of Student Life for nearly a decade, where he oversees programs and resources that enhance engagement and build meaningful connections among students.
In his role, he oversees more than 450 student organizations, along with student-centered programs such as The Rack: WVU Student Food Pantry, Homecoming, the Student Lot and the First Year Leadership Academy. He also serves as an adviser to the Student Government Association.
“After being recruited by a higher education employment search firm, I visited WVU in February 2016, and I immediately fell in love with the welcoming campus environment, students and staff,” he said. “It felt like home.”
One of his first accomplishments at WVU was the implementation of WVUEngage, an online management system that connects students to student organizations and the campus community.
His most gratifying accomplishment has been spearheading the growth of The Rack. Under his leadership, the food pantry transformed from a food cabinet in a hallway of the Mountainlair into a spacious facility in Morgan House, in addition to a “Snack Rack” in the Student Recreation Center and Mineral Resources Building.
Initially destined to be an engineer, Le pursued both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in electrical engineering, along with another master’s degree in engineering management from UNC Charlotte.
Though he excelled academically in his engineering studies, his active involvement in student life sparked a new passion — a career as a student life professional. He went on to earn an EdD in educational leadership with a concentration in higher education.
“Fortunately, my alma mater provided various outlets for me to work with students while I pursued my engineering degrees,” he said. “These roles, filled with both challenging and exciting experiences, helped me grow tremendously as a higher education professional, ultimately preparing me for my role at West Virginia University.”
Outside of work, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Rosetta, and their three sons, TJ, age 15, Braylon, age 12, and Caden, age 8.
A self-proclaimed sports fanatic, he also enjoys cheering on the Mountaineers and UNC Charlotte 49ers.
Nominate a University employee for a future Non-Classified Staff Salute by sending an email to enews@mail.wvu.edu.