State higher education system announces Matt Turner to serve as new senior administrator
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission) and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Council) today announced that Matt Turner will be the agencies’ new Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration, beginning August 1, 2014.
In this role, Turner will support the Commission and Council, while serving students, faculty and staff at each of West Virginia’s four- and two-year public higher education institutions. This position is responsible for carrying out policy directives for both systems, which includes facilitating intergovernmental relations and overseeing state-level student financial aid programs, the West Virginia Network (WVNET) and the statewide human resources and classification system.
“We’re looking forward to the energy and experience Matt will bring with him,” said Dr. Paul Hill, the Commission’s Chancellor. “As our state works to get more students through – and not just to – college, we need high-caliber, forward-looking leadership like Matt’s to help us reach that goal.”
James Skidmore, Chancellor of the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, added, “Matt has experience in both higher education and state government and knows the challenges we face in education in West Virginia. He will be a great asset as we address our goals of providing more educational opportunities for our citizens and providing a skilled workforce for our employers.”
A West Virginia native, Turner currently serves as chief of staff at Marshall University. He previously served as director of communications for then-Governor Joe Manchin, and in public relations roles for the West Virginia Department of Commerce and a Huntington manufacturer.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to again serve my home state by working on behalf of its students,” Turner said. “Education and training beyond high school are critical for West Virginia’s future success, and it’s an honor to join the all-hands-on-deck work of expanding learning opportunities to more West Virginians.”
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