West Virginia Wesleyan College welcomes alumnus Ryan Thorn ’07 as the college’s new Associate Vice President for External Affairs and Strategic Partnerships.

“I’m so honored that Ryan Thorn is returning to his alma mater and bringing his considerable talents to our work,” stated Dr. James Moore, President of West Virginia Wesleyan. “I know Ryan is a proud West Virginian, just like me, and he shares our vision that WVWC can and should be a leader in bringing in generational change to our part of the Appalachian region. I can’t wait to hit the road with Ryan and start expanding our base of support. This is a great day for WVWC.”

In this role, Thorn will lead the college’s engagement with corporate, foundation and government stakeholders across the state and region. He will cultivate new and strengthen existing relationships while identifying new funding opportunities, partnerships and other resources that support the college’s mission and priorities.

“I’m excited to be back at WVWC and serve the college that had such a positive impact on my life during very formative years and provided the foundation for who I am today,” said Thorn. “I look forward to engaging with the college’s stakeholders to create new opportunities that advance its mission and ensure that students have the same transformative experience that I had for decades to come.”

“We are delighted that Ryan accepted our invitation to return to Wesleyan in this critical role,” said Kristi Wilkerson ’99, Vice President for Advancement. “His expertise, experience and connections throughout the region will undoubtedly make WVWC even stronger and have a lasting impact on our students and college.”

Thorn most recently served as state director for USDA Rural Development in West Virginia from 2022 to 2025. Under his leadership, Rural Development invested more than $1.5 billion through hundreds of projects across the state that strengthened infrastructure, enhanced public safety and vital community facilities, bolstered rural healthcare, expanded access to broadband, provided home ownership and repair opportunities to residents and supported agricultural producers and small businesses. Prior to his appointment at Rural Development, Thorn served as economic development manager for U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III and held several public and government affairs roles in the private sector.

A native of New Martinsville, West Virginia (Wetzel County), Thorn was the first in his immediate family to graduate from college and is a long-time supporter and strong advocate of higher education. In addition to a bachelor’s degree from WVWC, he earned a master’s degree in communication from West Virginia University.