Wesley R. Fugate

Dr. Wesley R. Fugate began service as the 20th president of Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA in January of 2020.

Since coming to Wilson, Fugate has steered Wilson through the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic challenges. Under his leadership, the College launched a new strategic plan, Future Wilson: The Phoenix Rises. As a result of this planning process, the College has created six undergraduate majors, one degree completion program, one graduate program, one endorsement, and one certificate program. Additionally, Fugate has created the President’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and appointed task groups seeking to help strengthen Wilson’s financial position.

Fugate’s tenure has been marked by open communication, transparency, and collaboration. He is known for his many townhall meetings to keep various constituencies informed about Wilson’s progress. The alumni and friends of the College have responded to this transparency by increasing support of the Wilson Fund by 25%.

Prior to his appointment at Wilson, Fugate served Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va. in a variety of roles: vice president for student affairs and dean of students; vice president and chief of staff, and secretary of the Board of Trustees; and interim vice president for enrollment management. Previously, Fugate served as deputy chief of staff for planning and education policy to the governor of Kentucky; director of events for a national political party’s victory efforts, where he coordinated events for the president, vice president and first lady of the United States, as well as a myriad of other high-ranking officials; adviser to the Interfraternity Council at the University of Georgia; and director of program advancement for Kentucky’s Governor’s Scholars Program.

A first-generation college student and native of Eastern Kentucky, Fugate earned a doctorate in higher education from the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education, a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in higher education administration with an emphasis on institutional advancement, and a bachelor’s degree from Centre College in dramatic arts and economics. He is the recipient of the Alice L. Beeman Research Award in Communications and Marketing for Educational Advancement─Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Fugate is passionate about giving back to the communities and organizations with which he is affiliated. He is a member of the board of directors for Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and Educational Foundation, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (AICUP), Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, the Franklin County Housing Authority, the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC), and the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, for which he is the immediate past chair. He is past president of the Endstation Theatre Company board of directors, past chair of the Lynchburg Beacon of Hope board of directors, past treasurer of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE) board of directors, past member of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Board Professionals Leadership Group and a past board member of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, Kentucky’s Governor’s Scholars Program, the Centre College Alumni Association, Jenny Wiley Theatre, and the Kentucky Theatre Association.

A frequent presenter on issues in higher education, Fugate is the recipient of numerous recognitions, including the Centre College Distinguished Young Alumni Award and the NAPAHE Professional Achievement Award, and has received many awards for his work as an adviser with students. He has been named to Phi Kappa Tau’s inaugural Phi Tau’s Under 40 and Lynchburg Business’s inaugural Twenty Under Forty.

Fugate and his husband Cody Ward, an international education and student development professional, reside on campus in Sharpe House along with their cat, Miss Scarlet, an unofficial mascot of Wilson.