WVU President Tours McDowell County, Promotes Education and Workforce
West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson visited Welch on Nov. 4, 2025 for a Lunch and Learn at the Jack Caffrey Arts & Cultural Center as part of a statewide tour of all 55 counties. The visit aimed to introduce Benson to local leaders and residents, and to promote WVU's role in expanding educational pathways and preparing graduates with skills for the local workforce, matters that affect jobs health services and long term community stability.
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On Nov. 4, 2025, West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson held a Lunch and Learn in Welch as part of a statewide tour that will visit all 55 counties. The event at the Jack Caffrey Arts & Cultural Center brought Benson together with local officials and community members to discuss how WVU can expand educational and workforce opportunities for residents of McDowell County.
Benson used the outreach tour to introduce himself to communities across the state and to highlight university efforts to create pathways for prospective students. He emphasized goals of opening more opportunities for enrollment and producing graduates with skills aligned to local employer needs. Local officials and community members spoke during the lunch about the university's existing impact in McDowell County and about hopes for deeper collaboration.
The visit matters for McDowell County because higher education partnerships can influence a range of community outcomes beyond classroom learning. In rural counties, access to postsecondary education is linked to workforce development health services and local economic resilience. Expanding pathways to college and technical training can help residents qualify for jobs in sectors that sustain communities including healthcare social services and local government.
For public health and healthcare policy the implications are tangible. Producing graduates with relevant skills can help address shortages of nurses primary care providers and allied health personnel that are common in rural areas. Stronger pipelines from local high schools to universities and training programs can also support retention of health workers who understand community needs. Coordinated efforts between WVU and county leaders could include clinical placements workforce training and scholarship support aimed at recruiting students likely to remain and work locally.
Community members at the lunch described the importance of visible institutional commitment from the state flagship university. Officials noted that sustained engagement is needed to translate visits into concrete programs and measurable outcomes. Key next steps for policymakers and university leaders include identifying funding mechanisms programmatic partnerships and accountability measures that prioritize equity and access for McDowell County residents.
Benson's tour frames higher education as part of a broader strategy to strengthen rural communities. The visit underscores the need for long term investment in educational and workforce pipelines that consider social determinants of health and aim to reverse patterns of out migration. For McDowell County residents the critical questions now are how promises will become programs and how those programs will improve employment opportunity healthcare access and the overall well being of the community.
