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Mark A. Manchin
President, Glenville State University
Written by Brooke Brown
Photo by Kristen Cosner.
For nearly five decades, Dr. Mark Manchin has devoted his life to one belief: education has the power to transform lives. As president of Glenville State University, he continues a lifelong commitment to public service.
Manchin grew up believing this was a way of life. He was born in Farmington, WV, but describes his childhood as atypical. Because of his father’ s work, his family moved around a lot, living in counties across the state. Eventually, Manchin’ s father was asked to help introduce then-Senator John F. Kennedy across West Virginia.
“ At just eight years old, I stood on the floor of the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles,
CA, when Kennedy was nominated for president,” Manchin says.“ Being around public life became a normal part of growing up, traveling to parades, conventions and events with my dad.”
However, it was a much quieter moment that left the most lasting impression on him. On his eighth birthday, his father took his little
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