community
Talent Transplant
Michael T. Benson
Written by Kenzie Dye
Photo by Scott Lituchy.
W hen Dr. Michael Benson stepped into his role as president of West Virginia University( WVU), he did so with a clear mission: to honor the legacy of the institution while preparing it for a bold, forward-facing future. With more than two decades of leadership in higher education and a rich personal history shaped by travel, family and a love for learning, Benson brings to Morgantown a deep appreciation for the power of education to change lives.
Benson is the youngest of six children. Born in Utah and raised in Dallas, Texas, his childhood was nomadic. He attended five different elementary schools in six years, which allowed him to learn how to make friends and adapt quickly.
At 19, Benson left the country for a two-year church mission in Italy, an experience he describes as transformative.
“ It gave me a perspective on the world that you can’ t get any other way than living outside of your native country, learning a different language and learning about a culture,” he says.
This global curiosity shaped his life goals, leading him to create a list of five places he wanted to live by the age of 30— Rome; Washington, D. C.; New York; London; and Jerusalem. Benson has lived in each of these cities for at least a year and a half, except New York. Despite his big-city ambitions, Morgantown has quickly made an impression.
“ Somehow Morgantown didn’ t make the list, but in retrospect, it should have,” he says.
Benson’ s academic journey began at Brigham Young University, where he studied political science with minors in English and history.
“ I love reading good writing, and I’ ve gotten better as a writer, I believe. The ability to communicate through the written word is so important in this day and age,” he says.
His career path has included multiple university presidencies, the most recent being Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. While Benson and his family enjoyed life there, WVU offered a challenge he couldn’ t ignore.
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE