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WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., May 17, 2023 — West Liberty University and the West Liberty University Foundation announced today the appointment of Dr. Robert Kruse II as the first recipient of the Kenneth B. McMillen Endowed Chair.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to honor Professor McMillen’s legacy by focusing more on my research in cultural geography. Thank you to all involved in creating this opportunity, especially the WLU Foundation, the McMillen family and the College of Liberal and Creative Arts for recognizing me in this manner,” said Kruse, who is a professor of Geography.

The McMillen Endowed Chair is the first chair to be endowed at WLU and represents the highest faculty recognition established at this time.

Kruse, who joined the WLU faculty in 2005, is a professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. The time and resources afforded by the McMillen Chair will enable Kruse to pursue two projects in cultural geography – his primary area of interest.

The first project will address the unique ways in which postcolonial spaces are represented in the musical Pacific Overtures (1976). The second project, focused on the town of Point Pleasant, W.Va., will be a continuation of Dr. Kruse’s previous exploration of the unique intersections of history (the collapse of the Silver Bridge) and the paranormal (the lore surrounding sightings of the “Mothman”).

Kruse earned both his doctoral and master’s degree in Geography at Kent State University and his bachelor’s in Geography at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.

“We are so honored, in the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, to be the home of the McMillen Chair. As its first recipient, Dr. Kruse carries forward a West Liberty legacy of engaging, relevant courses, lively teaching and thoughtful research. That this legacy will always be linked with Professor McMillen through the affection of his students and the love of his family makes it even more meaningful,” said Dr. Cecelia Konchar Farr, dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts.

The McMillen Endowed Chair is named for Kenneth B. McMillen who was an associate professor of Political Science at WLU from 1946-1980. Upon McMillen’s death in 1985, his wife, Muriel, started a fund in memory of her husband through the West Liberty University Foundation. In 2019, WesBanco made a significant gift of $100,000 which enabled the permanent endowment of the fund and the creation of the McMillen Endowed Chair to support the research and programming of a tenured professor in a liberal arts discipline.

The growth of the McMillen fund has been bolstered by donations from private individuals, including alumni who fondly recall Professor McMillen. Alumnus and donor John W. Hoppers ’63 of Columbus has spearheaded the effort to continue the growth of the endowment by engaging McMillen’s former students.

Hoppers recalls Professor McMillen’s impact.

“Current events always had a way of slipping into our class discussions, but that era provided us with plenty of interesting events to discuss. McMillen had a way of imparting knowledge in a painless manner. His tests were comprehensive but fair — if you attended class and read the assignments.”

Alumni and friends who remember McMillen’s legacy are encouraged to contribute to the McMillen Fund and strengthen its support for faculty in the College of Liberal and Creative Arts. For more information on donating to the McMillen fund, please contact the WLU Foundation at 304.336.5635.

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., May 12, 2023 — West Liberty University Board of Governors named Dr. Tim Borchers as the university’s 38th president today during a 9 a.m. board meeting held in historic Shaw Hall.  

“I am pleased to announce that Dr. Borchers was chosen by a unanimous vote and has accepted our offer to become West Liberty University’s President. We welcome him to the Hilltop and look forward to introducing him to our students, alumni, donors, friends and the wider community,” said Rich Lucas, chairman of the Board of Governors, who also served on the Presidential Search Committee.

A native of South Dakota, Borchers will assume the presidency on July 1, 2023. Currently, he is vice president for academic affairs at Peru State College, the oldest college in Nebraska with an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students.

“I am humbled and honored to be selected as the next president of West Liberty University. For 187 years, West Liberty has served the state by preparing graduates to be leaders in their communities and professions. I look forward to continuing that work while identifying ways to be innovative and responsive to a changing world,” said Borchers, who attended the meeting via Zoom.

President Borchers succeeds Interim President Dr. Cathy Monteroso who has served as president since January 1, 2023.

“I would like to express my thanks to the Search Committee led by Tom Cervone and the AGB Search professionals who assisted us in selecting the next leader,” Lucas added. “All four final candidates were strong prospects with years of experience. I am confident that Dr. Borchers will lead West Liberty University into a vibrant future and continue its mission of quality education for all.”

Borchers stated that, “The faculty and staff with whom I met during my campus visit were each dedicated to transforming the lives of students and it will be energizing to provide leadership for their work. I’m deeply committed to the mission and vision of West Liberty. Its values of being a caring and affordable university that provides a high-quality education resonates with my beliefs and background.”

During his current tenure at Peru State College, the school achieved its highest first-year retention rate and enrolled two of the largest first-year student classes in the past 30 years. He spearheaded the campus migration to new retention software, and added new academic programs and partnerships to prepare Peru State students to meet the workforce needs of the State of Nebraska.

Borchers provided leadership so that Peru State received continuing accreditation status with the Higher Learning Commission in 2022. He also led the assessment of academic and general education programs while providing support to co-curricular assessment efforts.

Prior to his current position, Borchers served as the dean of the College of Arts, Media, and Communication at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) in Moorhead, Minn., from May 2008 to June 2015.

Before that, he was the founding chair of the Communication Studies Department at MSUM and served as associate dean of the College of Arts and Humanities and the College of Social and Natural Sciences.

Borchers holds both a doctoral and master’s degree in communication from Wayne State University in Detroit, and a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

He is the author of the book Persuasion in the Media Age, which is in its fourth edition and co-author of Rhetorical Theory: An Introduction, now in its second edition.

Borchers and his wife, Dr. Susanne Williams, enjoy cooking and participating in outdoor activities. He is a passionate runner, having most recently completed the New York City Marathon in November. They are the parents of one adult son, Oliver.

Borchers and his wife will reside on campus in the president’s home known as Colonial Heights.”

“Susanne and I look forward to meeting the faculty, staff, students, and alumni and welcoming them to the president’s house,” Borchers said.

WLU’s Presidential Search Committee 2023 was composed of all members of the Board of Governors plus two additional faculty representatives, one dean, three additional staff members, two WLU Foundation members (also alumni), advised by AGB Search.

Also serving as a non-voting, ex-officio member was Dr. Sarah Tucker, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The WVHEPC is expected to vote and approve Borchers’ contract in June.

West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest public university and offers more than 70 undergraduate majors, plus a growing number of graduate programs, both online and on campus. For more information, please call 1.866.937.8542 (WESTLIB), visit westliberty.edu or follow WLU on social media or westliberty.edu/youtube.

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., April 17, 2023 — West Liberty University will welcome banking and investment leader Denise M. Penz to Spring Commencement 2023 as the keynote speaker.

The Ceremony takes place at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 6, in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC) and approximately 355 students are expected to graduate that day.

Penz is an alumna of WLU and is the co-founder, CEO and vice-chairman of The Preferred Legacy Trust Company, established in 2020. 

She began her banking career in 1996 after serving in the United States Navy. Penz has led all areas of banking, including trust, private banking, brokerage, retail banking, mortgage lending, and all support areas of the commercial bank at both community banks and large regional banks.

In 2009, she founded and was principal of a private equity group to purchase and then operate a commercial bank in Ohio, until its sale in 2017. 

Penz received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Management from WLU (then West Liberty College), a Master of Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit University, and a graduate level certificate from Cannon Trust Schools. 

She is very active in her community as a member of the board of trustees for A Special Wish Foundation, a member of The Women’s Giving Circle, a founding member of Women’s Impact, a board member of Beyond BASIC, and president of the capital campaign committee for the YWCA-Wheeling. (EDITOR’S NOTE: As of April 21, 2023 the WLU Foundation Board of Directors nominated and approved Penz as a member.)

She resides in Summerville, S.C.

Doors open for seating at commencement at 9:30 a.m. and each graduate receives five tickets for commencement.

Commencement will be streamed live on Topper Station and will be broadcast live on social media for those unable to attend. 

Parking will be available for guests behind the ASRC. For more information, please visit westliberty.edu. 

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., March 2, 2023 — The West Liberty University Foundation has announced that The Health Plan will sponsor its seventh annual Topper Day of Giving. The 24-hour online giving event is set for Wednesday, April 5 and is expected to generate vital financial support for West Liberty University’s mission of higher education.

“We are pleased to welcome The Health Plan as our Title Sponsor for Topper Day of Giving. With its support as a valued partner, we expect this year’s Day of Giving to be our most successful yet,” said Betsy Delk, executive director of the WLU Foundation.

“Topper Day of Giving is one of the Foundation’s most important and successful fundraisers each year. Donations from alumni, faculty, and the community help grow scholarship opportunities for students and funding for programs across campus.”

President and CEO of The Health Plan Jeff Knight acknowledged the importance of supporting educational opportunities in the Ohio Valley.

“As one of the largest employers in Wheeling, The Health Plan has a vested interest in promoting West Liberty University and helping WLU students achieve their academic and career goals. It’s important for The Health Plan and all local employers to have a solid source of local talent,” he said.

The annual Topper Day of Giving has grown in dollars raised and number of donors each year, according to Delk.

“Last year, more than $280,000 was raised on the Day of Giving from more than 1,200 donors. We are grateful for this support and thank every donor,” she said.

The growth of Day of Giving has been fueled by the addition of “micro-campaigns” which allow donors to earmark their gifts for the program or initiative that matters most to them. Engaged faculty, students and athletes encourage gifts to their program through creative social media campaigns, mailings, emails and phone calls.

“The campus community will become energized in the days leading up to Topper Day of Giving. Students and faculty will tell their stories and appeal to alumni, family, and friends to support their programs and unlock the matching funds that have been pledged to support their area,” said Delk.

For a complete list of matching donors and the programs that benefit, please visit wlufoundation.org/dayofgiving.

Pledges received on or before April 5 and paid by June 30, 2023 count toward a match. Gifts of stock or IRA rollovers are gratefully accepted with all donations counting toward the matching funds.

For more information or to make a gift on April 5, please visit the secure site found at: wlufoundation.org/dayofgiving or call WLU Foundation at 304.336.5635.

Additional support for Day of Giving is provided by alumni Alex and Valerie Paris, Liberty Distributors, Gellner Law Offices and Wheeling Volkswagen Subaru.

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Jan. 20, 2023 — The West Liberty University Foundation Board of Directors recently selected Wheeling resident Betsy Delk to serve as its executive director.  

“The WLU Foundation is pleased to welcome Betsy to this leadership role. She is very experienced with boards, fundraising, and with development. We are confident in her ability and feel certain that she will be a good fit for West Liberty University into the future,” said John Dolan, chairman of the WLU Foundation Board of Directors.

Delk most recently served as director of Institutional Advancement for the Wheeling Symphony Society and formerly practiced law with Bachmann, Hess, Bachmann & Garden in Wheeling. 

“As a lifelong resident of the Ohio Valley, I know the significant place that West Liberty University holds in our community and region as a center of education, growth and development. I am pleased to join the WLU Foundation and its dedicated board members who support our mission of increasing opportunities for students of all backgrounds to pursue higher learning,” said Delk, who began her position on Jan. 16, 2023.

Delk is a graduate of Miami University (Ohio) and the William & Mary College of Law (Va.). She resides in Wheeling with her husband David and has three daughters.  

Delk replaces WLU Foundation President Angie Zambito-Hill who resigned in December.

Other officers serving on the WLU Foundation Board of Directors include: Vice Chairman Dr. Daniel Joseph of Wheeling, Treasurer Russell Dunkin of Wheeling and Secretary Dr. Anissa Anderson of New Martinsville, W.Va.

The WLU Foundation supports the University through the cultivation, investment and stewardship of private funds.

Delk’s office is located at the WLU Foundation downtown location, 1100 Main St., Wheeling. For more information, please contact Delk at betsy.delk@westliberty.edu or 304-336-5635.

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Nov. 23, 2022 — West Liberty University graduates will hear from Google Strategic account executive and member of the WLU Board of Governors, Arlene Brantley, at its Fall Commencement Ceremony, which takes place at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC).

Brantley was appointed to the Board of Governors in June of 2021. Brantley will speak on the topic of change and transformation as the key to personal growth.  

As a leader within a Fortune 500 enterprise company in the Southeast, Brantley collaborates with high-ranking executives in support of their digital transformation strategies to grow, evolve and meet the changing needs of their global customers and workforce. 

Prior to Google, Brantley spent more than 20 years in brand and leadership roles at key corporations like Microsoft and IBM.

Brantley earned an Executive MBA from Kennesaw State University’s Michael J. Coles College of Business in Kennesaw, Ga. Prior to that she earned a bachelor of arts degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.

Brantley is a resident of Atlanta, Ga.

Doors open for seating at commencement at 9:30 a.m. and each graduate receives five tickets for fall commencement.

The Commencement ceremonies will be streamed live on Topper Station and will be broadcast live on social media (YouTube and Facebook) for those unable to attend. 

Parking will be available for guests behind the ASRC.

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 21, 2022 — The West Liberty University Foundation celebrated philanthropy and its donors today as it welcomed alumni and friends back to campus for Homecoming 2022.

The Oct. 21 Recognition Banquet began with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and was followed by a catered dinner, all held in the renovated College Union.

Singled out for special honors were the John P. McCullough Society, the Nathan Shotwell Society, the President’s Circle, and the 2022 Impact of Philanthropy Award recipients.

This Philanthropy Awards are presented to a select group of donors who have given a generous amount of $25,000 or more during fiscal year 2022 to advance priority projects for WLU. These donors received a commemorative crystal award, engraved with their names as a token of gratitude.

Each of these award recipients also appeared in a brief video interview that explained a little bit about their history and reason for giving to WLU.

The inspiring videos will be shared via Topper Station (WLU’s streaming service) as of Saturday, Oct. 22 for replay-

“We are so grateful to our donors and pleased to share their stories with you this evening,” said Angela Zambito Hill, president of the WLU Foundation.

She and WLU Foundation Chairman John Dolan, also an alumnus, emceed the event and expressed the WLU Foundation’s thanks to each recipient.

2022 Impact of Philanthropy Honorees are:

• Kris Williams ’86 & James Taibi ’86
• Patricia Bethel ’70 and ’79
• Paula Keith ’71
• Coach Bob Roe Era Alumni Group: Rodney Reese ’70
• Coach Bob Roe Era Alumni Group: Anthony Filberto ’76
• Alumni Association of the School of Nursing Ohio Valley General Hospital
• Sisters of St. Joseph Health & Wellness Foundation
• Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration (unable to attend)

2022 Homecoming Sponsors include:

• Title Sponsor: Barnes & Noble College Bookstores
• Homecoming Game Sponsor: The Alpha Tavern
• 1837 Sustainer: WesBanco and Zambito Flooring America
• Recognition Banquet Table Sponsor: Dawn Ann Dean, RDH, MSDH
• Topper Friend: Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), Zambito Family Dentistry, Zeno, Pockle, Lilly, and Copeland, AC
• Print Sponsor Richardson Copy Concepts

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 18, 2022 — West Liberty University Foundation selected three students this fall to serve as interns as it offers real world experience for students preparing for professional careers in the nonprofit sector.

“The Foundation is pleased to partner with more students to build a culture of philanthropy on campus. This initiative is driven by our strategic planning goal of building up student engagement in philanthropy,” said Angela Zambito-Hill, WLU Foundation president, who has led the non-profit foundation since 2016 and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

“These students will learn the skills of fundraising, board development, private sector partnership, communications, event planning, and financial management of a non-profit,” she said.

The interns now assisting the WLU Foundation in its daily work include:

• Sydney Burkle, a junior marketing major from Wheeling. Burkle is the Lead Development Intern and reports primarily to Zambito-Hill. She also assists with the Hilltopper Athletic Club (HAC), providing support to Kyle Lutz, who serves as WLU Foundation administrative assistant and HAC coordinator. She also serves as Student Government Association (SGA) president.
• Oyunbolor Battsogt, a senior finance and accounting major from of Ulaanbaator, Mongolia. Battsogt is the Finance Intern and reports primarily to Ginni Findley, WLU Foundation Finance Administrator and a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNPA), who handles much of the accounting and daily financial duties of the organization. Battsogt also serves as treasurer for the WesBanco Student Investment Club and is a leader with the campus Net Impact Chapter.
• Samantha Large, a junior, marketing and business administration major from of Elizabeth, Pa. Large is the Development and Social Media Intern and reports to Lutz. She is a member of the Woman for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD) chapter that meets at WLU.

The Foundation just completed one of its biggest events held annually for students, Scholarship Day. This day-long activity includes scholarship students taking the time to write a personal Thank You to each and every donor who provides the valuable support of funding and endowing scholarships.

WLU Foundation Scholarships were established and funded by individuals or organizations to provide an opportunity to WLU students. The WLU Foundation is pleased to manage over 157 scholarship funds.

The West Liberty University Foundation, Inc. was chartered into existence in 1964 and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, led by its office staff. It maintains offices on both the West Liberty University campus and in downtown Wheeling. 

Its mission is to raise, invest, and steward private funds to strengthen West Liberty University and to increase opportunity for students of all backgrounds to pursue higher learning. For more information, please visit wlufoundation.org or call 304.336.5635.