E. Gordon Gee | |
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E. Gordon Gee
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24th President of West Virginia University | |
Assumed office March 3, 2014 |
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Preceded by | James P. Clements |
14th President of Ohio State University | |
In office October 1, 2007 – June 30, 2013 |
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Preceded by |
Karen Holbrook Joseph A. Alutto (interim) |
Succeeded by | Joseph A. Alutto (interim) Michael V. Drake |
7th Chancellor of Vanderbilt University | |
In office July 7, 2001 – August 1, 2007 |
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Preceded by | Joe B. Wyatt |
Succeeded by | Nicholas S. Zeppos |
17th President of Brown University | |
In office 1998–2000 |
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Preceded by | Vartan Gregorian |
Succeeded by | Ruth Simmons |
11th President of Ohio State University | |
In office September 1, 1990 – January 2, 1998 |
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Preceded by | Edward H. Jennings |
Succeeded by | John R. Sisson (interim) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Elwood Gordon Gee February 2, 1944 Vernal, Utah, United States |
Nationality | American |
Spouse(s) | Elizabeth D. Gee (deceased) Constance Bumgarner Gee (divorced) |
Children | Rebekah Gee |
Residence | Morgantown, West Virginia |
Alma mater |
University of Utah (B.A.) Columbia University Law School (J.D.) Teachers College, Columbia University (Ed.D) |
Profession | Educator |
Signature |
Elwood Gordon Gee (born February 2, 1944) is an American academic and is currently serving his second term as President of West Virginia University. He has served as the chief executive at several universities in the United States, previously serving at Ohio State University. Gee had been heading an Ohio State-based think tank following his retirement from the Ohio State presidency on July 1, 2013. He retired in response to a series of controversies relating to comments he made, the last of which involved anti-Catholic comments allegedly made in jest about the University of Notre Dame. His resignation thus ended his second term as the president; he had previously served as president of Ohio State from 1990 to 1997.
Gee has held more university presidencies than any other American. Prior to his resumption of the presidency of West Virginia University on March 3, 2014, Gee was president of the Ohio State University from 2007 to 2013, chancellor of Vanderbilt University from 2000 to 2007, president of Brown University from 1998 to 2000, of the University of Colorado from 1985 to 1990, and of West Virginia University from 1981 to 1985. Time rated Gee one of the top 10 college presidents in the United States for 2010.
Gee was born and grew up in Vernal, Utah, 171 miles (275 km) east of Salt Lake City, the son of an oil company employee and a school teacher. Raised a Mormon, he served a mission in Germany and Italy. Gee is an Eagle Scout and a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. Gee attended the University of Utah and graduated with a B.A. in history in 1968. After earning a J.D. from Columbia University Law School in 1971 and an Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1972, Gee was named a judicial fellow and staff assistant to the Supreme Court for one year.