BLUEFIELD, W.VA – Bluefield State University has announced that President Robin Capehart will be retiring as president of the institution, effective December 31, 2023. At the Board of Governors’ meeting on Nov. 3, the Board accepted Capehart’s resignation. Until then, he will assist in the transition of responsibilities to an acting President, to be selected by the Board in the near future.

In January 2019, Capehart was hired as Bluefield State’s Interim President. Eight months later, he was named President of the Institution. Earlier this year, Capehart was named one of The Ten Most Dominant HBCU Leaders of 2023 by the HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) for his leadership, sustaining the institution back to a financial state, enrollment growth, and obtaining university status.

Charlie Cole, chairman of the BSU governing board, noted, “The Board is extremely grateful to Robin Capehart for his dedicated service to this institution. When he arrived in 2019, Bluefield State was experiencing significant stress. Under his leadership, the University is now in solid financial position. After years of enrollment decline BSU’s enrollment has growth and stabilized.”

“During his Presidency, Bluefield State now offers graduate programs, has added more than a dozen intercollegiate sports programs, and join the prestigious Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.”

“I am proud of the transformative changes we’ve made to ensure the continued existence and success of Bluefield State University,” Capehart commented during his announcement. “We’ve accomplished a number of goals we set four years ago including the return of on-campus housing, increasing diversity, and the transformation to a University.”

“Personally, the time is right for me,” he observed. “I’m newly married and want to spend time with my wife, who has taken advantage of an opportunity in Tennessee, and frankly, I miss her,” said Capehart. “I’m grateful to the Board of Governors, the Bluefield State University family and the Bluefield community. I wish them the best.”

Capehart, a Moundsville, WV native, has enjoyed a distinguished career in education and state government. During his career, he served as West Virginia’s Secretary of Tax and Revenue and President of West Liberty University. Capehart received the “Distinguished West Virginian Award” in 2000.

About Bluefield State University
Bluefield State University, a historically black institution, is to prepare students for diverse professions, informed citizenship, community involvement, and public service in an ever-changing global society by providing an affordable, accessible opportunity for public higher education through certificate, associate, bachelor, and master degree programs. For more information, visit www.bluefieldstate.edu.

###