WVNCC President, Dr. Daniel Mosser, Announces Retirement After Four Decades of Service in Higher Education

Dr. Daniel Mosser, President of West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC), has announced his retirement effective June 30, 2026, marking the culmination of a distinguished 41-year career dedicated to advancing higher education and workforce development.

“King Solomon reminds us that for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Guided by this wisdom, I have decided that this Spring semester will mark the end of my season as president of Northern,” Dr. Mosser said in a statement to the College community.

“I set a personal goal years ago to retire after 40 years of service and I’ve reached this milestone. It’s been an amazing and rewarding journey having worked with many talented and cherished colleagues in service to many thousands of students over the years. But it’s time for me to pass the baton to a new generation of leadership. I hope that my service here has positioned WVNCC for continued growth serving the many residents of the Ohio Valley who rely on this college to help them get ahead.”

Since taking the helm at WVNCC in 2019, Dr. Mosser has worked with faculty and staff to expand program offerings and more than double the number of students attending the college, leaving an indelible legacy of visionary leadership, transformative change, and an unwavering commitment to students, student success, and the community.

Dr. Mosser’s career in higher education began in 1985 at the University of Maryland at College Park, where he taught as a graduate teaching assistant and later as an instructor and program director in the Industrial Education Department while earning two graduate degrees. He went on to spend more than 30 years in the region serving at the National Association of Home Builders, Associated Builders and Contractors, Prince George’s Community College, and the College of Southern Maryland, where he honed his skills as an innovative, student-focused leader while leading numerous community-focused and business-led workforce development programs.

Building on this foundation, Dr. Mosser stepped into the President’s role at WVNCC seven years ago, spearheading initiatives that have had a lasting impact on the college and the Ohio Valley. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic provided stability and compassion, ensuring students, faculty, and staff were supported during unprecedented challenges. In 2022, Dr. Mosser led the College through a Higher Learning Commission accreditation review and site visit, earning a result of “no findings,” a rare perfect outcome.

Under his guidance, WVNCC secured more than $10 million in state and federal grants, expanding the college’s ability to support students and vital programs. New and re-established programs during this period included HVAC, Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic, Certified Nursing Assistant and Licensed Practical Nursing, Substance Abuse Intervention, Commercial Driver’s License Class A & B, AWS Certified Welder, Compressor Mechanic, Respiratory Therapy, Medical Laboratory Technician, Entrepreneurship, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, and more. During this time, WVNCC Foundation assets from charitable gifts and donations grew to more than $10 million, increasing access to need-based funding, emergency assistance, and scholarships.

Dr. Mosser consistently challenged colleagues to think beyond the status quo and embrace the community college mission of creating life-changing opportunities, particularly for students who have traditionally not been well-served by higher education. His work included early efforts that evolved into the guided pathways movement. Over the years, he led teams that leveraged tens of millions of dollars in corporate gifts and government grants to provide thousands of low-income and first-generation students the opportunity to enroll free of charge and earn industry credentials, licenses, associate degrees, or career advancement.

Student support services expanded significantly during Dr. Mosser’s tenure, including success coaches, food pantries, emergency assistance, the implementation of a new CRM system, and other resources designed to help students enroll and succeed.

“The past seven years were marked by tremendous positive change as Dr. Mosser led WVNCC through a strategic transformation to become one of West Virginia’s best-performing community colleges,” said Jacob Altmeyer, Chair of the WVNCC Board of Governors. “His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to our communities and our students have been instrumental during this pivotal time of transition for Northern. While we are disappointed to lose Dr. Mosser, we wish him the very best in retirement and appreciate all he has done to position Northern for continued growth and success.”

Dr. Mosser also leaves a significant physical legacy across WVNCC’s campuses, particularly in Wheeling. His commitment to enhancing campus infrastructure led to extensive interior upgrades, branding enhancements, and HVAC and computer system improvements across all three campuses. The historic Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Building, the college’s flagship facility, has undergone multi-million-dollar interior and exterior renovations, culminating in a recent state-funded exterior restoration that has returned the building to its former prominence. Additional improvements include the addition of an Executive Conference Center, new state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs funded through the State of West Virginia’s Nursing Expansion Grant, upgraded campus grounds, and the development of a Compressor Mechanic program in partnership with six local energy firms.

When reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Mosser said his most significant accomplishment was the cultural transformation of the college and the recruitment and retention of talented and diverse faculty and staff.

“I’ve had the distinct privilege of deciding who gets to work at Northern and am most proud of the team of faculty, staff, and administrators who have joined the college and those who have remained here during my tenure,” he said. “We have some of the best and brightest in higher education who are committed to Northern’s mission and doing all they can to contribute to the success of our students. I am leaving Northern in exceptionally capable hands.”

Dr. Mosser added, “Think about this for a moment — I have been going back to school every year in September for the past 58 years. Who would have thought that this low-income, first-generation student would not only succeed in college but would excel, eventually becoming president of a college like Northern. This role has been the highlight of my professional career. I am deeply grateful to have done this work alongside the absolute best people, teams, and partners in the industry. I am stepping away from full-time work at this time to make space for some long-held personal goals and family priorities. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to my journey. What a remarkable ride it has been.”