The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) has officially approved the selection of Dr. Kendra Boggess as interim president of Concord University effective July 1, 2013. The action was taken at a special meeting of the WVHEPC Tuesday, June 25, 2013 in Charleston, W.Va.
The Concord University Board of Governors (BOG) selected Dr. Boggess as the University’s interim president in May to succeed President Gregory F. Aloia when he accepted the position of president of the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Ga. They will both assume their new duties on July 1.
Dr. Boggess, who is currently serving as Concord’s interim vice president and academic dean (VPAD), becomes the 11th president of the University and Concord’s first female president.
She brings nearly three decades of serving Concord University in academics and administration to her new post. Throughout her career, Dr. Boggess has served on numerous national, state, institutional and divisional committees and has been recognized for her leadership. She is an active and respected member of the local business and civic community.
“Concord will continue the momentum that has been building for growth and service to the region during the next academic year,” Dr. Boggess said. “A key component of planning for the next year is the continuation of support for students, staff, and faculty in their many endeavors. I am committed, as well, to meeting with alumni, benefactors, members of the business community, and friends of the University.
“Additionally, as the state Higher Education Policy Commission implements their new master plan entitled ‘Leading the Way: Access. Success. Impact.’ Concord will continue its own strategic planning processes and seek to complement our goals with those of the state, the legislature, and the HEPC to meet the needs of the state and the region. There is much to achieve and Concord’s faculty, staff, students and administrative team are committed to the continued success of our students and the institution,” she said.
Since joining Concord’s faculty in 1984, Dr. Boggess’ academic experience has consisted of teaching various undergraduate business courses in Concord’s Division of Business, primarily in business communications and software applications. Her prior administrative experience resulted from service as the Division’s chair from 1996 – 2009, and from more than 25 years work in the private sector. She gained additional administrative experience when elected Concord’s faculty president in both 2008 and 2009.
Dr. Boggess served as an associate dean at Concord from 2009 – 2011. She was appointed the University’s interim vice president and academic dean in August 2011.
Dr. Boggess holds an Associate of Arts degree from St. Petersburg Junior College in Florida, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from the University of Florida in Gainesville, a Master of Science degree in Vocational Technical Education from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. in Business Education with a cognate in Business Management from Virginia Tech.
Her dissertation topic was “Ethical Issues in Business Communication: A Comparative Study of the Perceptions of Japanese and U.S. Students.” Her research interests are in culture’s impact upon business ethics and strategies of effective business communication. While at Virginia Tech, she served as a graduate research assistant with responsibilities for the collaborative writing of an educational consortium’s catalogs and curriculum guides. She has served as a reviewer for the Career and Technical Education Research Association journal for several years.
She was elected president of the West Virginia Business Education Association and served as a member of West Virginia University’s Statewide Business Plan Competition Oversight Committee.
She was recognized by the president of the Career and Technical Education Research Association (CATER) for her service as the organization’s national membership director and national secretary. Dr. Boggess was also selected as the West Virginia Collegiate Teacher of the Year by the West Virginia Business Education Association.
Dr. Boggess is a charter member of the board of directors of the Charles T. “Chuck” Mathena II Foundation serving the Chuck Mathena Performing Arts Center in Princeton, W.Va.
She and her husband, Ted, an architect, make their home in Princeton. They have been married 34 years and have three sons and daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.
