BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – As West Virginia Wesleyan College focuses on its mission to serve, the 133^rd Commencement attendees will hear from the leader of the largest non-profit social services agency in West Virginia.

Mark Phillips, President and CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia, will address graduates and guests at the 10 a.m. Commencement ceremony to be held in Wesley Chapel on May 11.

Phillips joined Catholic Charities WV in 2019 as Northern Regional Director before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer in March 2022 and Chief Executive Officer in May 2023.

Prior to joining Catholic Charities West Virginia, Phillips served as the Vice President for External

Relations and Chief of Staff to two Presidents at Wheeling Jesuit University from 2012-2018. From 2007-2012, Phillips managed operations at Family Resources, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit focused on the prevention and treatment of child abuse.

Having lost his younger sister, Angela, to an overdose in 2016, Phillips considers the opportunity to work with the marginalized as a mission and a calling. Along with his work at CCWVa, Phillips has worked with young people in foster care through CASA for Children and as Catechesis Coordinator for his parish, St. Michael’s. He is married to Dr. Amy Criniti Phillips and has one child, Benjamin (12). Phillips was raised in southwestern Pennsylvania and received a BA at St. Vincent College and an MA at Duquesne University.

More information about Commencement, can be found at www.wvwc.edu/commencement.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.