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GARY G. WHITE – (INTERIM), 2014-January 2016

gary white

The Marshall University Board of Governors named Gary G. White interim president of the university on December 29, 2014. On October 20, 2015 the Marshall University Board of Governors selected Dr. Jerome A. “Jerry” Gilbert as the next university president. President Gilbert began his duties in January 2016.

White’s appointment followed the sudden death of long-time president Dr. Stephen J. Kopp. White will serve for the duration of the search process for a permanent president, which is expected to take approximately six to nine months. He is not a candidate for the permanent position.

Michael G. Sellards, board chairman, said upon the appointment, “Gary is an outstanding choice to be the interim president. He reflects the mission and values of Marshall University and has a tremendous background in academic affairs, having served as chairman of this board in the past and as a member of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The board is appreciative he has agreed to lead the university during this interim period.”

White said, “I’m gratified and humbled the board of governors has asked me to serve in this important interim role,” said White. “I look forward to working with members of the board, the faculty and the staff to keep our university moving ahead and focused on students.”

A Marshall graduate (Regents Bachelor of Arts, 1997), White is a former member and past chairman of the Marshall University Board of Governors, former member and vice president of the West Virginia Board of Education, and former member of the University of Pikeville Board of Trustees. He also served on the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission from 2013 until his appointment as interim president.

He is on the boards of directors of United Bankshares Inc., ARC Logistics Partners LP, Cabell Huntington Hospital, the Marshall University Foundation, the West Virginia Coal Association and the Larry Joe Harless Community Center Foundation Inc. He also serves on the board of advisors of West Virginia Media Holdings LLC.

White has been executive vice president of Blackhawk Mining LLC since October. He was president and chief executive officer of International Industries Inc. for a large part of his career—from 1992-2007. He also previously served as president and chief operating officer of International Resource Partners LP, a subsidiary of James River Coal Company, president and chief executive officer of the West Virginia Coal Association, manager of underground mining at Amherst Coal Company and corporate training coordinator at Island Creek Coal Company.

He is a former member of the Community Trust Bancorp Inc. Board of Directors and the RAG American Coal Inc. Board of Directors. He served as director of transition for Governor Cecil Underwood.

White received the 2004 Distinguished Service to the Community Award from the Marshall University Alumni Association, the 2006 Distinguished Achievement Award from the West Virginia Education Alliance, the 2003 City of Hope “Spirit of Life Award” and is a member of the Business Hall of Fame at Marshall.

In 2006 and again in 2008, he was named one of the “Fifty Most Influential Individuals in West Virginia” by West Virginia Executive magazine.

(Biography courtesy of the Marshall University Office of the President – February 26, 2015)

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