WVU Parkersburg president honored

WVU Parkersburg president receives state Empowerment/Inspiration Award.

CONTACT: WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage, 304-424-8200.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage is the recipient of the 2005 Empowerment/Inspiration Award by the West Virginia Minority Business Development Center.

Dr. Gnage was honored Friday (Sept 16) during a black tie award presentation at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston.

The award is given to an individual "who has made significant achievement/accomplishment, inspires others by their example and guidance, and continues to excel in personal and professional goals and objectives," according to Marsha Hopkins, executive director of the WVMBDC. Dr. Gnage is the first African-American female to be appointed president of a college or university in West Virginia.

This marks the third year that the center has awarded state honors. During the ceremonies, other awards were given for the WV entrepreneur of the year, the female entrepreneur of the year, a life-time achievement award and Small Business Administration awards.

Dr. Gnage became the sixth president of WVU Parkersburg in 2004. She also serves as a regional vice president of West Virginia University. Prior to assuming the presidency at WVU Parkersburg, she was senior vice president for academic affairs at Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, NJ.

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203)