Taking a significant step forward in the University’s pursuit of membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities, President Michael T. Benson is announcing the upcoming April 1 launch of a national search for the next vice president for Research.
“As we continue to work toward our AAU goal and seek National Cancer Institute designation, our campuswide research infrastructure and high impact research output must expand,” President Benson said during Monday’s (Feb. 9) Faculty Senate meeting.
Ming Lei, who has served with dedication as interim vice president for Research since July 1, 2025, has been critical in preparing the Research Office for the next steps in that expansion process.
“Ming’s experience with the National Science Foundation, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute for General Medical Sciences have enhanced the work WVU is doing to ‘level up’ our research production,” President Benson said. “I am grateful for his willingness to share his expertise for the betterment of the entire University.”
Following the hiring of a permanent vice president, Lei will return his focus fully to his work as senior associate vice president in the WVU Health Sciences Center Office of Research and Graduate Education and vice dean of research in the School of Medicine.
Highlighting the importance of the position at West Virginia’s only R1 institution, the next vice president for Research will continue to directly report to President Benson, while regularly engaging with the Office of the Provost under the direction of incoming Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Beverly Wendland who will chair the Research VP Search Committee.
Elsewhere, the search process for the position of vice president and chief financial officer on President Benson’s leadership team is ongoing. The new CFO will provide oversight for the University’s financial, budgetary and business services, along with fiscal strategy for the near and long terms.
Ahead of her official start date on July 1, incoming Provost Wendland, meanwhile, is working closely with interim Provost Paul Kreider to oversee searches for several deans, ensuring a seamless hiring process.
With support from Greenwood Asher & Associates, the search for the person who will fill the newly named Linda and Don Brodie Deanship at the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is entering its next phase with Zoom interviews scheduled this month. Finalists will be invited to the Morgantown Campus in March.
Evan Widders, associate provost for undergraduate education, is serving as co-chair of the search committee alongside Keith Jackson, dean of the College of Creative Arts and Media.
At the College of Law, interim Dean Susan Brewer will remain in her role until Dec. 31, allowing time for an extension of the search later this year for the next permanent Law dean in collaboration with Greenwood Asher & Associates.
The fourth and final candidate for Libraries and Press dean is scheduled to visit the Morgantown Campus Tuesday (Feb. 10). Read more about Candidate One, Candidate Two and Candidate Three.
“These important hires will be defining ones for President Benson, myself, and the entire University,” incoming Provost Wendland said. “We must be deliberative with the leadership choices that will help us set our academic course for the future.”