WV Press Association, www.wvpress.org
By Dr. E. Gordon Gee, president, West Virginia University
In 1862, amid a devastating Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, creating land-grant education and fueling the future growth of our republic.
Land-grant education grew from the radical new idea of opening higher education to the masses and using university-created knowledge to improve citizens’ lives.
Land-grant universities have evolved with the needs of those they serve. My goal as president has been to help West Virginia University become THE modern land-grant university.
Our land-grant mission compels us to advance innovation and economic prosperity across West Virginia and beyond.
As a highest-level research institution, our University attracts scholars with cutting-edge knowledge to help power progress.
Renouncing institutional competition, we work with other higher education institutions to make West Virginia a living and learning laboratory for successful partnerships, among all sectors—public, private, education and government.
That’s why the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities designated West Virginia University as an “Innovation and Economic Prosperity University,” one of just more than 80 across the country.
For many years, we have been an economic engine for West Virginia.
We have blazed a path forward with three goals: to reinforce the foundation that supports economic growth, including our infrastructure, talent base and business climate; to identify potential sectors in which West Virginia can grow to diversify our economy; and to help partners around the state navigate these new pathways toward our shared destination: A prosperous West Virginia.
In 2015, we launched the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environmental Laboratory—or MSEEL—in partnership with Northeast Natural Energy, the National Energy Technology Laboratory, and Ohio State University.
MSEEL was the first long-term, comprehensive field study of shale gas resources, which are so important to West Virginia and the nation.
In 2021, after the pandemic made working from home a viable option, Ascend West Virginia beckoned professionals from around the country to make their home here. It has grown into the nation’s premiere talent attraction and retention program.
Meanwhile, our researchers continued to break ground—sometimes literally—on areas vital to our economy.
With a pioneering method to extract and separate rare earth elements and critical minerals from acid mine drainage and coal waste, our scholars are working to design, build and operate a pre-commercial demonstration facility for the process. Our commercialization and national security teams are also critical in this effort, and they are partnering with the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to solve a significant national security challenge.
Currently, we are also increasing our efforts in terms of job development and job creation.
Given the breadth of our academic offerings; our growth in research, commercialization and technology transfer; and Morgantown’s attractive location for companies and startups; we will continue to attract business and industry well into the future.
For example, our state was chosen as one of seven regional hydrogen hubs to receive nearly $1 billion in federal funding thanks to the work of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen team that was driven by members from our University. This investment will have a significant economic impact on communities in our region and our state, creating thousands of new jobs.
Last year, we also announced a partnership with LG Electronics, a global innovator in technology and consumer electronics with a presence in almost every country.
The resulting partnership gives our students and faculty an unprecedented opportunity to work with a multinational company on building and deploying next generation technologies.
LG identified opportunities to conduct research with our WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Sciences and Peak Health. The company is also very interested in workforce development and partnering with faculty members from our Chambers College of Business and Economics.
This year, in his State of the State address, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the formation of the West Virginia POWER Tech Center. The initiative is a collaboration between four higher education institutions – WVU, Marshall, Shepherd and Blue Ridge – and the Center will focus on building an energy and workforce supply for the growing technological sector, attracting new investment, new jobs and new technology, including data centers.
West Virginia University is repositioning our state for broad-based prosperity by supporting and aiding workforce development for exciting new manufacturing projects, such as Nucor’s state-of-the-art sheet steel mill in Apple Grove; Procter & Gamble’s plant in Inwood; and FORM Energy’s Weirton facility making batteries that can store electricity for much longer than typical batteries.
We also fulfill our land-grant mission by nurturing resiliency in West Virginia’s communities.
In response to the devastating floods currently affecting southern West Virginia, West Virginia University is leading a campus-wide Flood Relief Donation Drive to support those in need.
Our Center for Community Engagement has partnered with local fire departments, nonprofit organizations, student groups and the WVU Alumni Association to maximize impact and outreach.
Drawing upon our life-improving purpose, West Virginia University will continue addressing immediate state needs while laying the groundwork for sustained prosperity.
