Alumnus Dr. Brian O. Hemphill, Class of 1992, will serve as the guest speaker for the 2014 fall convocation program. Dr. Hemphill is the 10th president of West Virginia State University in Institute, West Va. Fall convocation is scheduled for Thursday, September 18 at 10 a.m. in the University quadrangle.

Hemphill is an active member on the Rotary Club of Charleston, West Virginia, Thomas Health System Board of Trustees, Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce, Charleston Area Alliance Board of Directors, West Virginia Roundtable Board of Directors and West Virginia KIDS COUNT Board of Directors. He is a published author, whose multitudes of writings cover topics related to gun violence and threat-preparedness on college campuses; emerging financial concerns affecting the collegiate sphere; STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)- and economic-related issues pertaining to education; and a myriad of additional scholarly perspectives pertinent to the higher education environment.

President Hemphill earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Iowa, a Master of Science degree in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational communication from Saint Augustine’s University.