Three key leaders in the West Virginia University administration will assume additional roles this month with the departure of Vice President and Chief of Staff David Satterfield, President David C. Hardesty Jr. announced today (Oct. 5).
Satterfield recently accepted the states top community and economic development post and begins those duties Oct. 15.
Hardesty said for now he will separate the chief of staff and vice president for institutional advancement positions and disperse the duties among three administrators who will assume the following interim roles:
* Carolyn Curry, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Officer for Communications
* Margaret Phillips, Chief of Staff
* David Miller, Special Assistant to the President for External Relations
The appointments, Hardesty said, become effective Oct. 15 for an interim period while he evaluates the current and proposed structures and works to form a permanent leadership team.
“We have some extraordinarily talented and committed administrators that are willing to take on additional responsibilities to keep this University moving in a dynamic direction on many fronts,”Hardesty said.”I thank them for their loyalty and for their vision and look forward to working with each of them as we continue to strengthen the future of West Virginia University.”
In assuming the vice presidents role in addition to executive officer for communications, Curry will oversee Printing Services, Publications Services, Special Events, University Communications, News&Information Services, TV Productions and the Web Unit. She will also lead the Universitys integrated marketing and branding efforts.
Curry joined WVU in November 1996 to consolidate, enhance and focus the Universitys communications efforts. Prior to her WVU appointment, she was former Gov. Gaston Capertons communications director and also led public affairs initiatives for national and state education associations. She is a 1975 WVU graduate with degrees in English and journalism and received a masters degree in communications from Shippensburg University.
In assuming the role of chief of staff, Phillips will supervise operational and personnel activities for both the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, including the Expert Business Offices, Trademark Licensing, Parent Advocate and Mountaineer Parents Club. She will also serve as the liaison to the WVU Alumni Association and WVU Foundation, as well as the offices for Social Justice, Internal Audit, Intercollegiate Athletics and the Visitors Resource Center.
Phillips joined Institutional Advancement in 1996 as a special assistant to the vice president and later assumed additional duties as deputy chief of staff and assistant to the vice president. Prior to that she was with WVU s Department of Human Resources as manager of the classification and compensation unit. She earned an undergraduate degree in education and a masters degree in public administration from WVU and is also a certified compensation professional.
As special assistant to the president for external relations, Miller will be the primary liaison with external constituency groups including state and local government officials; facilitate and share information with federal, state and local officials; and advise and consult with the president on issues and assist the administration in establishing governmental priorities and strategies.
A farmer, educator and former public official, Miller joined WVU in October 2000 as senior advisor for external relations with the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences and the WVU Extension Service. Prior to that, he served as West Virginia deputy commissioner of agriculture.
Miller is a graduate of Fairmont State College and earned a masters degree in education from the University of Virginia. He has served in the West Virginia Legislature as both a member of the House and Senate and also was personnel director with the Preston County Board of Education.
“The Universitys agenda has grown tremendously,”Hardesty said.”Weve initiated an aggressive capital campaign and an important campus building program. We have a renewed research and economic development effort and a strong public service component. We are also focusing on our undergraduate and graduate teaching initiatives. Its a robust agenda, so I will be looking at the management structure as it currently exists and consulting with others over the coming months to see what structure works best for our strategic agenda,”he said.