From golden sands to gold and blue: Meet Michael T. Benson, 27th president of WVU

Leading with a Shovel

Benson's leadership style is hands-on-sometimes while wielding a snow shovel. One now-legendary viral moment from his presidency at Eastern Kentucky University involved him responding to a student's tweet during a massive snowstorm. The student jokingly said he'd come to class if the president helped shovel his driveway. So Benson did just that.

The story went viral. Radio shows called. The Today Show took interest. Tire companies sent snow shovels.

But for Benson, it wasn't a PR stunt. It was a moment of connection.

"I did it because I wanted to see what the student would do," he said.

Benson drove 10 miles to the student's house and started shoveling. The student's mother came out and "just about fell of the porch when she realized the university president had been summoned by her son."

A Scholar and a Humanist

Always wanting to lead by example since completing a doctorate in modern history at the University of Oxford in 1995, Benson has earned two more degrees while serving full-time as a university president: his first was a master's of non-profit administration at the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.

"I recognized the need to take all those classes I avoided as an undergraduate like finance, accounting, statistics and economics," Benson quipped.

His second was a master of liberal arts from Johns Hopkins University. He's also published two books since 2017, the first (co-authored with Hal Boyd) on the importance of public higher education to American democracy and the second a biography of Daniel Coit Gilman, the first president of Johns Hopkins University who is widely-considered the architect of the modern American research university. The latter title was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the top higher education books in 2023.

Benson has had faculty appointments with tenure at every school he's served as president and tries to teach a course each academic year.

His impact also extends beyond the ivory tower through his fundraising efforts everywhere he has been.

At Coastal Carolina, Benson secured the largest donation - $10 million - in school history to support a new medical college.

While at Eastern Kentucky, Benson oversaw $300 million in capital improvements in a five-year period.

But his most cherished project is The Scholar House in Kentucky that offers subsidized housing and childcare for single parents pursuing a college degree.

"Of all the projects I worked on, that had the most profound impact," he said. "We provided hope and opportunity to single parents and making sure their children are taken care of. Once they graduate, they vacate the housing and make room for the next person."

The Art of Balance

Don't be fooled by the academic accolades-Benson's life is balanced by movement and mindfulness.

A former marathon runner, Benson may have the fastest marathon time of any sitting president of a Power Four institution at two hours and 41 minutes.

He now practices hot yoga to stay grounded post-knee replacement. He swears by its calming effects.

"There's a lot to be said for stillness and breathing," he noted. "It helps you slow down. And that's healthy."

His downtime is also filled with music. A classically trained pianist, Benson finds solace in the keys of his mother's seven-foot Steinway Grand piano. Frederic Chopin is his gold standard, though lately, he's been exploring Franz Schubert's melodies.

As the youngest of six children, Benson and his siblings were all expected to practice piano.

"The joke in the family was we only had to practice on the days we wanted to eat," he said. "So there was a really high level of expectation set by my mom, who was a piano teacher."

The Playmaker

Benson's metaphor for leadership comes from the basketball court. A former point guard and Oxford Blues player (with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker as a teammate), he draws inspiration from NBA legend John Stockton.

"He would score here and there, but he's best known as the all-time assist leader," he said. "You watch him play and can see how he distributed the ball, making his teammates better. The point guard position is similar to being president of a university.

"My job is to put people in the right position. Get them the ball and let them score."

Rooted in Family

Family remains his compass. His wife Debi, whom he met on a blind date and later lost a game of pool to -guaranteeing a second date, is "the most genuine, caring person I've ever met."

Together, they've built a life with three children- Truman, Tatum and Talmage -and a future filled with shared adventure.