Michael Garrison (politician)

Garrison is a graduate of the West Virginia University class of 1992 and earned a J.D. at West Virginia University College of Law in 1996. He attended St Anne's College at Oxford University on a Rotary Scholarship from 1992 to 1993.{{Cite web|url=http://www.spilmanlaw.com/Attorneys/D-H/Garrison,-Michael-S|title = Top Attorneys Providing Full Service Law in WV, PA, VA, NC}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rotary.org/en/studentsandyouth/educationalprograms/ambassadorialscholarships/pages/ridefault.aspx |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-02-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210144237/http://www.rotary.org/en/studentsandyouth/educationalprograms/Ambassadorialscholarships/Pages/ridefault.aspx |archivedate=2011-02-10 }}

Garrison had been a managing member of Spilman Thomas & Battle PLLC in Morgantown, West Virginia. He served as Cabinet Secretary in the West Virginia Department of Tax and Revenue until 2001.[http://president.wvu.edu/mike_garrison WVU President's page] From 2001 to 2003 he was the chief of staff to West Virginia Governor Bob Wise.{{Cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18534657.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610050517/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18534657.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-06-10|title=Garrison changing positions: ; Tax secretary is now Wise's chief of staff - The Charleston Gazette (Charleston, WV) | HighBeam Research|date=10 June 2014|accessdate=13 June 2023}} Following that appointment, Garrison was awarded a Toll Fellowship from the Council of State Governments.{{cite web |url=http://www.csg.org/ |title=Home |website=csg.org}}

In 2009, Garrison returned to his former law firm, Spilman Thomas & Battle,{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.spilmanlaw.com/ |website=spilmanlaw.com}} Garrison represented natural gas company Northeast Energy in its $42 million suit against the City of Morgantown, West Virginia.Ry Rivard "[http://www.dailymail.com/News/201107070771 "Gas drillers want $42 million from Morgantown"]," Charleston Daily Mail, 7 July 2011, accessed 2011-07-12 Northeast sought an injunction against the city, to prevent enforcement of its ban on horizontal hydraulic fracking. Morgantown passed its ban after Northeast sited a drill pad near the city's primary drinking-water intake. The ban and the issue received increased press coverage locallyBen Adducchio & Associated Press "[http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=20789&terms=marcellus "Company sues Morgantown over drilling ban"]," West Virginia Public Broadcasting, 27 June 2011, accessed 2011-07-12; Duane Nichols "[http://www.frackcheckwv.net/2011/06/25/judge-upholds-morgantown-frack-ban-denies-injunction-drilling-continues/ "Judge Upholds Morgantown Frack Ban, Denies Injunction, Drilling Continues"]," FrackCheckWV, 25 June 2011, accessed 2011-07-12 and nationally

{{citation |last=Associated Press |title="Company sues W.Va town over drilling ban" |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9O4DT700.htm |access-date=2016-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702085831/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9O4DT700.htm |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |archive-date=2012-07-02}};

{{citation |last=Vicki Smith, Associated Press |title="Gas industry cranks up PR push on W.Va. drilling" |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9O0EMFO0.htm |access-date=2016-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202451/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9O0EMFO0.htm |publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek |archive-date=2016-03-04}};

{{citation |last=Lawrence Messina, Associated Press |title="Acting W.Va. gov orders emergency Marcellus rules" |date=2011-07-13 |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2011/07/13/Acting-W-Va-governor-orders-emergency-shale-rules/stories/201107130251 |access-date=2016-08-25 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}

before the ban was struck down.{{cite news |last1=Karmasek |first1=Jessica |title=Monongalia judge kills Morgantown fracking ban |url=https://wvrecord.com/stories/510601104-monongalia-judge-kills-morgantown-fracking-ban |access-date=23 April 2024 |work=West Virginia Record |date=16 August 2011}}

He lectured as an adjunct professor in West Virginia University's department of political science in the years preceding his appointment as president.[http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=21631 "WVU Committee Narrows Presidential Field to Three"], State Journal, 22 March 2007, accessed 2008-04-26 In 2007, Garrison was selected as West Virginia University's twenty-second president.{{Cite web|url=http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2007/04/13/5614|title = WVUToday Archive}}

Garrison's selection as president was controversial with some on the university's faculty; the faculty senate passed a vote of no confidence on him in April 2007.Ian Urbina, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/us/22heather.html University Investigates Whether Governor’s Daughter Earned Degree]", New York Times, 22 January 2008, accessed 2008-04-26 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted concerns about his lack of academic experience and the possibility that his inclusion among the finalists was the result of his political connections.[http://chronicle.com/news/article/?id=2001 West Virginia U. Ignores Controversy and Picks Garrison as New President], Chronicle of Higher Education, 13 April 2007, accessed 2008-05-06Jonathan D. Silver and Eleanor Chute, [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07091/774245-298.stm "Controversy roils search for new WVU president"], Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1 April 2007, accessed 2008-04-26

{{Main|West Virginia University M.B.A. controversy}}

In 2008 Garrison became involved in a controversy involving the granting of a Master of Business Administration degree to Heather Bresch, who had failed to complete the required credits. Bresch is the daughter of then West Virginia Governor and former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin.

A panel led by WVU faculty members produced a [https://web.archive.org/web/20080723215048/http://www.facultysenate.wvu.edu/panel_report_4-23-08.pdf report] on the incident described by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as criticising the university administration for having made "a 'seriously flawed' decision fraught with favoritism."Len Boselovic and Patricia Sabatini, "[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08115/876164-298.stm University revokes degree after scathing report on M.B.A. awarded to Bresch]", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 24 April 2008, accessed 2008-04-26 In May 2008 the faculty senate voted 77–19 to call for Garrison's resignationLen Boselovic and Patricia Sabatini, "[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08127/879448-85.stm WVU faculty wants president's ouster]", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6 May 2008, accessed 2008-05-06 - a demand repeated by a vote (565-39, with 11 abstentions) open to all WVU faculty at a mass meeting a week later.Len Boselovic and Patricia Sabatini, "[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08135/881812-100.stm WVU faculty: President Garrison must go]", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 14 May 2008, accessed 2008-05-14 In August 2012, West Virginia University officially closed its investigation, reaching no conclusion but foreseeing "unreasonable delays in investigating complaints of misconduct" raised questions about violations of due process rights.[http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/wvu-closes-book-on-fraudulent-awarding-of-mba-649973/?p=0 WVU closes book on fraudulent awarding of MBA] Post Gazette {{dead link|date=June 2023}}

On June 6, 2008, Garrison officially announced he would resign as President of the University effective September 1, 2008.Associated Press, "[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080606/ap_on_re_us/governor_s_daughter]", Yahoo! News, 06 June 2008, accessed 2008-06-06 He was succeeded by C. Peter Magrath on August 1, 2008.[http://president.wvu.edu/ WVU Administration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215121108/http://president.wvu.edu/|date=2013-12-15}}

In October 2008 a West Virginia grand jury decided not to indict Garrison on criminal charges relating to the degree scandal.Len Boselovic and Patricia Sabatini, [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08292/920931-85.stm "Degree Scandal Not a Crime"]Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 18 October 2008

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{{West Virginia University presidents}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Presidents of West Virginia University

Category:West Virginia University alumni