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President Series · #509

$321 Million & 20,000 Jobs: The Bet on West Virginia - with Michael T. Benson, President, West Virginia University

Michael T. Benson, President · West Virginia University

Sep 20, 2026 40 min
$321 Million & 20,000 Jobs: The Bet on West Virginia - with Michael T. Benson, President, West Virginia University

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What this conversation answers

  • 01

    How does a 5 time president decide a place is home, & why did WVU check every box his mentor set?

  • 02

    What does a $321 million Engines grant & 20,000 projected jobs mean for the poorest quartile of a state?

  • 03

    Why does a historian president want to bring blue books back in the age of AI?

Show notes

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Michael T. Benson, President, West Virginia University

This episode, President Series #509, is powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠ - Higher Ed's AI-Enriched Platform!

This episode is sponsored by the InsightsEDU 2027 Conference - focused on attracting & retaining the modern learner - where we will be podcasting live from February 23-25 in Phoenix, AZ! Use code EDUP & save $100! Early-bird pricing ends December 15, 2026!

This episode is also sponsored by 2026 Arizona Community College Administrators Conference where we will be podcasting live from October 7-9 on the campus of Yavapai College!

This episode is brought to you by Beyond Survival: Reporting from the Front Lines of Higher Education’s War for Relevance is a documentary account from the front lines of the most consequential upheaval in higher ed in generations!

YOUR cohost is Laura Ipsen​, President & CEO, ​Ellucian

YOUR host is ⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  • How does a 5 time president decide a place is home, & why did WVU check every box his mentor set?
  • What does a $321 million Engines grant & 20,000 projected jobs mean for the poorest quartile of a state?
  • Why does a historian president want to bring blue books back in the age of AI?

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Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!

Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠

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