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News Release
June 25, 2008
GOVERNOR WILL APPOINT DR. CHARLES M. VEST
TO WVU’S BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Contact: Lara Ramsburg, 304-558-2000
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Joe Manchin today announced his intention to appoint Dr. Charles M. Vest to the West Virginia University Board of Governors. The appointment will be for four years and will become effective July 1.
“Dr. Vest is a world-renowned leader, scholar, researcher and teacher who will bring a tremendous amount of insight and experience to the Board’s efforts,” said Gov. Manchin. “He is a great example of what West Virginians are capable of achieving, and I am truly honored to have someone of his stature commit to helping West Virginia University reach its next level of success.”
Vest, who holds the titles of president emeritus and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was born in Morgantown and earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from WVU in 1963. He served as president of MIT from 1990 through 2004. He is currently the president of the National Academy of Engineering, serving a six-year term that began July 1, 2007. In 2006, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology from President Bush.
“It is a privilege to serve my alma mater,” said Dr. Vest. “I look forward to participating as the faculty, alumni and Board of Governors build a strong future for WVU.”
As president of MIT, Dr. Vest was active in science, technology, and innovation policy; building partnerships among academia, government and industry; and championing the importance of open, global scientific communication, travel, and sharing of intellectual resources. During his tenure, MIT launched its OpenCourseWare (OCW) initiative; co-founded the Alliance for Global Sustainability; enhanced the racial, gender, and cultural diversity of its students and faculty; established major new institutes in neuroscience and genomic medicine; and redeveloped much of its campus.
Dr. Vest was also a director of DuPont for 14 years and of IBM for 13 years; was vice chair of the U.S. Council on Competitiveness for eight years; and currently serves on the Presidents Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a committee that he has been a part of during both the Clinton and Bush administrations.
He has also served on various other federal committees and commissions, including the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Secretary of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education, the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Transformational Diplomacy and the Rice-Chertoff Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Committee.
Dr. Vest earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan in 1964 and 1967, respectively. He also has received honorary doctoral degrees from 10 universities and is the author of three books, including two on higher education.
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