Parkersburg, W.Va. (May 16, 2023) — West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors named Dr. Torie Jackson as the university’s president Tuesday, May 16, during a 3 p.m. board meeting held in the Francis and Nina Phares Board Room.

Jackson will assume the presidency on July 1, 2023. She is currently the interim president and Chief Executive Officer at WVU Parkersburg. She has also served WVU Parkersburg in various leadership roles since her start in higher education in 2004.

“We are excited and honored that Dr. Torie Jackson has been selected as the new President of WVUP. Dr. Jackson’s experiences – both personally and professionally – and her outlook on life make her uniquely suited for this position,” said Steve Hardman, Chair of WVU Parkersburg’s Board of Governors. “Dr. Jackson received a doctorate in higher education from WVU. She has served WVUP in many capacities, including Faculty Member of the Year, Faculty Senate President, Department Chair, Vice President, and Interim President. Dr. Jackson has truly excelled in each of these positions.”

“We had a great Search Committee comprised of outstanding faculty. Staff, students and members of the community. They were focused and dedicated, and took their work very seriously,” Hardman added. “The result is the selection of a truly exceptional president. We are so pleased that Dr. Jackson has been selected to lead WVUP into a very bright future.”

“It is an honor and a privilege to lead the institution that first embraced me years ago. I appreciate the support of our board of governors, our faculty and staff, and our students,” said Jackson. “I will continue to work to make sure all of us are WVU Parkersburg Proud!”

Jackson succeeds herself as interim president. Since Dr. Chris Gilmer departed from the college, she has held the title since July 1, 2022, to become the president at West Virginia University Potomac State College.

“We recently have completed our strategic plan for the college, and it will take a team approach to reach those goals and outcomes,” said Jackson when asked about her plans for the presidency. “We will also continue to work with industry professionals to prepare a workforce for upcoming jobs and focus efforts on recruitment and retention of students in all programs.”

Jackson is a Ritchie County native who has been a member of WVU Parkersburg since 2008. She is an alum of WVUP with an associate of applied science in journalism. She has a Regents Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in journalism, a Master’s in corporate/organizational communication, and a doctorate in higher education administration, all from West Virginia University. Jackson is married to Todd Jackson, a deputy sheriff in Ritchie County, and is the mother to three sons, Creed, Heath, and Ruger.