Mark A. Manchin

By Brooke Brown

For nearly five decades, Dr. Mark Manchin has devoted his life to one belief: education has the power to transform lives. As president of Glenville State University, he continues a lifelong commitment to public service.

Manchin grew up believing this was a way of life. He was born in Farmington, WV, but describes his childhood as atypical. Because of his father’s work, his family moved around a lot, living in counties across the state. Eventually, Manchin’s father was asked to help introduce then-Senator John F. Kennedy across West Virginia.

“At just eight years old, I stood on the floor of the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, CA, when Kennedy was nominated for president,” Manchin says. “Being around public life became a normal part of growing up, traveling to parades, conventions and events with my dad.”

However, it was a much quieter moment that left the most lasting impression on him. On his eighth birthday, his father took his little league team to a local swimming pool. Three African American teammates were initially denied entry.

“My dad insisted we all enter together,” Manchin says. “Many people left the pool in protest. As I grew older, I understood the weight of that moment.”

A few tragedies have also shaped his perspective. In 1968, he witnessed unrest in Washington, D.C., following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. That same year, a fire at his family’s business claimed four lives, and the Farmington #9 Mine explosion killed 78 coal miners.

After enrolling at Potomac State College in 1970, Manchin met his wife, Virginia Anne “Gigi” Mastrogiuseppe. They married in 1972 and eventually had five children. After college, Manchin began teaching West Virginia history at Renick Junior High.

“The relationships I built there have lasted nearly 50 years,” Manchin says. “I still see former students who now introduce me to their grandchildren. That job taught me that education is about investing in young lives.”

He later taught and coached at Jackson Junior High School in Parkersburg where he showed students the value of a firm handshake and making eye contact.

“You never truly know whose life you’re going to touch,” Manchin says. “There is no student, no matter their circumstances at the time, who cannot go on to succeed.”

That philosophy guided him into leadership roles, including superintendent positions in Webster, McDowell and Harrison counties. In McDowell County during state intervention, he faced deep poverty and resistance to change.

Though his environment switched from the classroom to higher education at Glenville State, Manchin still believes anyone can achieve their goals when given the right opportunities.

“Being in a position where you can influence meaningful change and help individuals gain the skills, confidence and preparation they need to succeed in life is both humbling and exciting,” he says. “That weight of responsibility is real, and it drives me every single day.”

Service remains central to his leadership. In memory of his late wife, Gigi, he established a scholarship to support students and contributes to initiatives such as the Student Hardship Fund and Pioneer Pantry.

“When I consider the causes I give back to, it begins on a very personal level,” he says. “Ultimately, I give to causes that help people reach their full potential and ensure that geography or circumstance never limits their future.”

Manchin’s commitment extends beyond Glenville’s campus as well, particularly in strengthening health care and opportunity in rural communities.

“I truly love this state,” he says. “My roots are here, and they run deep. I value being in a position where I can help make West Virginia more prosperous and better equipped to provide opportunities for the people we educate. Our work is never finished here.”