SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — Shepherd University has named its 17th president and the successor to Dr. Mary Hendrix, who announced she would be retiring at the end of the academic year.
The Shepherd University Board of Governors on Thursday announced the selection of Dr. Cameron B. Wesson.
Wesson brings over 30 years of experience in higher education, including more than a decade of academic leadership.
He previously served as provost and dean of the faculty at Franklin & Marshall College before joining La Salle University in 2023 as provost and vice president for academic affairs, overseeing all academic programs, personnel, and operations.
“We are pleased that Dr. Wesson has accepted the offer to serve as the University’s next president,” Shepherd BOG Chair Dr. James M. Cherry said. “His diverse academic and administrative background will ensure the University continues its momentum to expand opportunities for students with new programs, innovative resources, and unique experiences.”
Presidential Search Committee Chair Austin Slater said Wesson engaged with students, faculty, staff and the community during the interview process.
“Dr. Wesson spent time listening to all of the stakeholders, and we are excited about what he brings to the University in terms of enthusiasm, innovation, and development,” Slater said. “Shepherd University will continue its pivotal role as an academic, cultural, and community hub under his leadership.”
Slater thanked members of the presidential search committee for their work, along with the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members who participated in the selection process.
“We had a large pool of candidates to consider,” he said. “We moved thoughtfully but expeditiously, mindful of the competitiveness for the great candidates who were our finalists. This process was successful thanks in large part to the commitment of the search committee and the support of the Shepherd community.”
Wesson said joining Shepherd University will be an incredible opportunity.
“I am honored to serve as the 17th president of Shepherd University,” Wesson said. “I look forward to working with the dedicated faculty and staff as we prepare our remarkable students with the skills and education they’ve come to expect from the University. I am excited to collaborate with the entire Shepherd community to continue enhancing our academic rigor and the student experience as we prepare for the future of higher education.”
Wesson earned a B.S. in architecture and environmental design and a B.A. in anthropology from Auburn University, then completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
An archaeologist by training, Wesson has held faculty and administrative positions at the University of Oklahoma, the University of Illinois Chicago, the University of Vermont, and Lehigh University, where he also redesigned undergraduate advising systems that contributed to record first-to-second-year retention in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Wesson’s scholarly work includes books, journal articles, and archaeological research projects spanning North America and the United Kingdom, reflecting sustained contributions to the field over three decades. He is also completing coursework toward an MBA at Lehigh University.
Wesson will began at Shepherd on July 1.