Timothy Borchers was selected unanimously as West Liberty University’s new president by the Board of Governors Friday morning.
Borchers, who was chosen out of a group of four finalists, previously served as the vice president for Academic Affairs at Peru State College in Nebraska.
There were 59 applications for president in total, according to the university.
Borchers has 18 years of higher education administrative experience. He holds a doctoral degree in communication from Wayne State University, a master’s degree in communication from Wayne State and a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
He said he was honored for the opportunity to address the school’s challenges and find creative solutions.
“Together, we will increase enrollment,” Borchers said. “We will increase retention rates working together. I’ll be transparent. I will be a steady and consistent leader. I’ll be present on campus.”
Borchers and his wife, Suzanne Williams, plan to be on campus by the first week of June and are excited to engage in the university’s activities and culture. He will assume the presidency on July 1.
“We’re already looking forward to the first athletic and arts events of the fall semester,” he said. “We’ll be happy to have people to the house to deepen those connections, to re-engage everyone after this semester gets started.”
Borchers succeeds Interim President Dr. Cathy Monteroso who has served as president since January 1, 2023.
West Liberty chose to let the contract of previous president W. Franklin Evans expire in December after accusations that he failed to give proper attribution in several speeches.