Honorary Doctor of Business (presented at John Chambers College of Business and Economics ceremony)
An entrepreneurial retailer and civic leader with decades of experience growing and managing a retail enterprise, Arthur “Art” Gabriel founded Gabriel Brothers with his brother, James, and served as the company’s president, secretary and treasurer.
Under his pioneering leadership in off-price discount retailing, the first Gabriel Brothers store — now known as Gabe’s — opened in Morgantown in 1961.
In the decades that followed, the company grew to more than 100 stories across 11 states.
The Gabriel family sold its majority interest in the company to Alvarez & Marsal Capital in 2012, but the Gabe’s headquarters remains in Morgantown.
Gabriel earned a bachelor’s degree in business from what is now the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics in 1961. He previously served on the College’s Visiting Committee and was inducted into both the Chambers College Roll of Distinguished Alumni and West Virginia Business Hall of Fame.
He served as a past board member for the Lebanese American University, One Valley Bank and Centra Bank, and president of the Comprehensive Occupational Company.
He is active in many philanthropic, civic and religious organizations.
Honorary Doctor of Public Health (presented at Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health ceremony)
James Thomas (Tom) Jones a native of West Virginia spent his entire 42 year health career in West Virginia. He received a BS Degree in Business from West Virginia University and a Masters Degree in Hospital Administration from the University of Minnesota. He also holds a Certificate in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.
He served as President/CEO of the WVU Health System from 2002 until his retirement in 2014. During his tenure the System grew from 2 to 7 hospitals with revenues of $1.5 billion and 11,000 associates. He previously served as CEO of the Genesis Health System and St Mary's Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia and COO of Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling, West Virginia. During his career he served on the Boards of the American Hospital Association and West Virginia Hospital Association. He served on the Boards and Chaired the West Virginia State Chamber, West Virginia Business Roundtable, and West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. He served on the West Virginia University Board of Governors from 2014-2024 and as Chair for 2 years. He also served on and Chaired the WVU School of Public Health Advisory Committee. He previously served on the Boards of Premier Inc and Arch Coal and currently serves on the Board of City Bank.
He is a Lifetime Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has been recognized as one of the 10 Most Influential Leaders in West Virginia by West Virginia Executive Magazine, a Most Distinguished West Virginian by West Virginia's Governor, received the Lornelle White Lifetime Achievement Award in Business from the West Virginia State Journal, and is a member of the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame. He also was recognized as a Most Distinguished Alumnae of West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics and is a member of The Order of Vandalia and Woodburn Circle Society.
He resides with his wife, Judy, in North Fort Myers, Florida.
Honorary Doctorate of Laws (presented at College of Law ceremony)
Beth Walker served as Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia from 2017 until 2025, including as Chief Justice during calendar years 2019 and 2023. As a senior status (retired) justice, she recently chaired the Advisory Committee to Propose Rule Changes to Code of Judicial Conduct and continues to assist with special projects for the Court.
Justice Walker is passionate about public engagement and civics education. She was a founding co-host of Lady Justice: Women of the Court, a podcast in partnership with the National Center of State Courts featuring state supreme court justices discussing the judicial branch of government and their experiences on their state’s highest appellate court.
Justice Walker founded and chaired the West Virginia Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being and currently serves on the Advisory Committee to the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP). She is an active volunteer in support of the West Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.
Justice Walker graduated from Hillsdale College in 1987, earned her law degree in 1990 from The Ohio State University College of Law, and then spent her entire professional career working in West Virginia. For more than 25 years before taking the bench, she concentrated her practice on labor and employment law, first as a partner with the regional law firm Bowles Rice and then as Associate General Counsel for WVU Medicine. She is a fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
Justice Walker is an alumna and former board chair of Leadership West Virginia. A lifelong Girl Scout, she also served as chair and long-time member of the board of directors of Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Charleston. She is married to Mike Walker, a proud 2011 alumnus of the West Virginia University College of Law.
Presidential Honorary Doctorate of Engineering (presented at Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources ceremony)
Highlighting the importance of exemplary academics and dedicated service, West Virginia University President Michael T. Benson will present Syd Peng with the first Presidential Honorary Degree he will bestow.
Peng has served as the Charles E. Lawall Chair of Mining Engineering Emeritus in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Department of Mining Engineering since his 2013 retirement from the University after nearly 40 years of service.
First hired at the University in 1974, Peng became chair of the Department of Mining Engineering in 1978 — a position he held continuously until 2006.
In 1985, Peng established the Longwall Mining and Ground Control Research Center and became its director. In 1998, he was appointed director of the West Virginia Coal and Energy Research Bureau.
Over the years, his research emphasized both theory and practice, meaning theory was validated with mining practice and mining practice was based on sound theory.
Peng, who is a member of the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, has written several textbooks and published more than 380 conference proceedings and journal papers in the areas of longwall mining, ground control, surface subsidence, respirable dust, modeling and mine seals.
In 2007, Peng became the University’s first National Academy member with his induction into the National Academy of Engineering, recognition for his leadership in the development of advanced longwall mining and ground-subsidence-control technologies.
Peng now lives in Fremont, California.