The West Virginia Elks Association has selected Dr. Marie Foster Gnage, president of West Virginia University (WVU) at Parkersburg, as the State Citizen of the Year. A banquet celebrating Gnage’s leadership was held Saturday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Parkersburg. While the gathering was to honor her selection as the Parkersburg Citizen of the Year, it was announced at the end of the event that she was also given the title by the state Elks Association, which represents 22 lodges in West Virginia.
According to a list of 2012 highlights released by Elks Lodge 198, Gnage:
Demonstrates a personal interest and involvement in the revitalization of downtown Parkersburg.
Exemplifies administrative leadership in the expansion of the academic curriculum offered at WVU Parkersburg, including the startup of the college’s Downtown Center on Market Street in downtown Parkersburg.
Delivers input, direction and guidance to the West Virginia National Guard and other state and local officials regarding the Parkersburg armory design and build on the campus of WVU Parkersburg.
Speakers at the Elks Citizen of the Year banquet included West Virginia First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin; West Virginia Community and Technical College System Chancellor James Skidmore and Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell.
Gnage became the sixth president of WVU Parkersburg in July 2004. Recently, she was appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges. She is currently chair of the AACC Board of Directors and is past chair of the American Council on Education’s Network Executive Board.
Gnage also serves on the Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce Board; the Region IV Workforce Investment Board; the United Way of the Mid-Ohio Valley Board of Governors; the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council; the Campus Compact Board of Directors and the West Virginia Humanities Council.
Dr. Marie Foster Gnage is presented with the State Citizen of the Year award by local Parkersburg Elks members.
