Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
As vice president for strategic initiatives at West Virginia University, Rob Alsop is responsible for identifying, developing and managing sustainable resources and initiatives that support academic, research and service excellence. He was appointed to his current position in August 2017. His expanded responsibilities included financial, budgeting, talent and culture, and facilities while still maintaining oversight of corporate and government relations and continuing innovation and entrepreneurship efforts. Rob earned his political science degree from WVU in 1999 and law degree from the WVU College of Law in 2002. In addition to working in private practice for Bowles Rice LLP, and Jackson Kelly, PLLC, Rob has extensive state and federal government experience. From November 2010 through May 2013, he was the chief of staff to West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, where he focused on a host of legislative initiatives, including the Marcellus Shale regulatory structure, OPEB reform, primary education reform and other economic development and budgetary matters. From January 2005 through November 2007, Rob served in a number of roles for former Governor Joe Manchin, including deputy general counsel, general counsel for the Department of Revenue and secretary of revenue. During his tenure with former Governor Manchin, he was his designee as chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, working on privatizing that system. He also served as chief of staff for Senator Carte Goodwin in Washington, D.C., and clerked for the Honorable Robert King, Circuit Judge for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, in Charleston, West Virginia, and Richmond, Virginia.