In a move designed to sustain the momentum of its present positive direction, the Davis & Elkins College Board of Trustees named Chancellor Michael P. Mihalyo, Jr. as President, effective July 1, 2013. He succeeds G. T. ‘Buck’ Smith, who will voluntarily step down on June 30 after five years as President. He will continue to serve the College as President-Emeritus and College Advisor.
At their Spring meeting, the Trustees also elected June B. Myles, presently Board Vice Chair, as Chair of the Board, succeeding Paul S. Stirrup, whose term on the Board also concludes on June 30 after five years as Chair. He will continue on the Board as Chair-Emeritus, effective July 1.
In announcing the appointments, Chairman Stirrup noted, “the College’s administrative and Board leadership will essentially remain the same – we will all just wear different hats. It is a sign of the College’s strength that we have within the present leadership team seasoned persons who can lead us into the future.”
D&E’s Position of Strength
Stirrup continued: “By all accounts, the past five years have witnessed a remarkable turnaround in the direction, spirit, academic program, student life, enrollment, finances, and facilities of Davis & Elkins. Though not without continuing challenges, it would seem we are in the strongest overall position since the College was founded 109 years ago.
“Enrollment is up by more than 55%, the faculty and academic programs have been greatly enhanced, students are increasingly distinguished in their academic achievement, we operate with a balanced budget, nearly $10 million has been invested in facilities and, unlike most other colleges and universities, we have no external debt.”
Mihalyo and Myles: Seasoned Leaders
President-elect Mihalyo came to Davis & Elkins in August 2011 as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. In March 2012 he was named Chancellor, with responsibility for overseeing day-to-day administration of the College as well as representing and acting on behalf of the President. He holds degrees from Duquesne University and West Virginia University, and is an accomplished keyboard artist.
Chair-elect Myles was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2000, and has served as Chair of the Enrollment Management Committee, Treasurer and presently as Vice Chair. During a mandatory year off the Board in 2009-10, she was awarded the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters. A resident of Redding, CT and Elkins, WV, she is President of Myles Lumber Company and serves on the Boards of Davis Trust Company, Davis Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Randolph County Community Arts Center.
Commenting on Dr. Mihalyo’s appointment as his successor, President Smith said, “Since coming to D&E, Michael has demonstrated repeatedly his extraordinary capacity to ‘get things done’ with insight and clarity, touched by his warm humanity. It will be a privilege to continue working with him.”
Mihalyo is widely experienced as a teacher and higher education administrator. Before coming to D&E, he served as Chair of the Division of Fine Arts at Brevard College and as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost and Dean of Faculty at Bethany College. He served also as interim Vice President for Academic Programs of the Appalachian College Association (ACA), a consortium of 35 private, liberal arts colleges and universities serving over 45,000 students and 3,700 faculty.
Related to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Davis & Elkins College is located in Elkins, 2 hours east of Charleston, 3 hours south of Pittsburgh and 4 hours west of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit the College Web site at www.dewv.edu or call 304-637-1243.
