E. Gordon Gee

Gordon Gee
Gee in 2007
19th and 26th President of West Virginia University
In office
January 1, 2014 – July 15, 2025
Preceded byJames P. Clements
Succeeded byMichael T. Benson
In office
July 1, 1981 – June 30, 1985
Preceded byHarry Heflin
Succeeded byDiane Reinhard (acting)
11th and 14th President of Ohio State University
In office
October 1, 2007 – June 30, 2013
Preceded byJoseph A. Alutto (acting)
Succeeded byJoseph A. Alutto (acting)
In office
September 1, 1990 – January 2, 1998
Preceded byEdward H. Jennings
Succeeded byJohn Sisson (acting)
7th Chancellor of Vanderbilt University
In office
July 7, 2000 – August 1, 2007
Preceded byJoe B. Wyatt
Succeeded byNicholas S. Zeppos
17th President of Brown University
In office
January 6, 1998 – February 7, 2000
Preceded byVartan Gregorian
Succeeded byRuth Simmons
15th President of the University of Colorado System
In office
1985–1990
Preceded byWilliam Baughn
Succeeded byWilliam Baughn
Personal details
BornElwood Gordon Gee
(1944-02-02) February 2, 1944
Vernal, Utah, U.S.
Spouses
  • Elizabeth Dutson
    (m. 1968; died 1991)
  • (m. 1994; div. 2007)
ChildrenRebekah Gee
Education
Signature
Academic background
ThesisAn Examination and Analysis of Public Employment Relations Statutes with Recommendations for Statutory Treatment of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education (1972)
Doctoral advisorWalter Sindlinger
Other advisorMichael Brick

Elwood Gordon Gee (born February 2, 1944) is an American academic administrator. From 2014 to 2025, he served his second term as president of West Virginia University; his first term there was from 1981 to 1985. Gee is said to have held more university presidencies (or their equivalent titles) than any other American. He was head of University of Colorado Boulder from 1985 to 1990, of Ohio State University from 1990 to 1997, of Brown University from 1998 to 2000, of Vanderbilt University from 2000 to 2007, and of Ohio State University for a second time from 2007 to 2013.

Gee stepped down from the Ohio State presidency in 2013 after controversies about anti-Catholic comments allegedly made in jest about the University of Notre Dame. He headed an Ohio State-based think tank before returning to West Virginia University.