WEST LIBERTY — West Liberty University will celebrate the inauguration of Tim Borchers as the university’s 38th president with a week of activities April 4-10 surrounding the theme of “Aspirations.”

Borchers took office on July 1, 2023, after being selected in a nationwide search.

“The Inauguration events will be a great opportunity to celebrate West Liberty University,” Borchers said. “It will be a time to reflect on the legacy of our past 188 years and look forward to the future.

“I hope that alums and community members will be able to attend at least one of our events during that week,” he continued. “Additional events will be added to the schedule, so check back often.”

The inauguration itself will happen at 2 p.m. Friday, April 5, in the Athletic Sports and Recreational Complex (ASRC) with a reception following.

The week of events — which will celebrate imagination, wellness, community, wonder, legacy, and impact — will kick off Thursday, April 4. That day, WLU will hold its annual Hughes Lecture Series featuring Silas House, in addition to The West Liberty Hilltop Players’ opening night for “Puffs.”

The rest of the week will include events like an organ invitational and reception, a 5K run/walk, and a viewing of the partial solar eclipse. On the final day, April 10, WLU will hold its eighth annual Topper Day of Giving.

Borchers has 18 years of higher education administrative experience, serving previously as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Peru State College in Nebraska. Borchers holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Borchers and his wife, Dr. Susanne Williams, are the parents of one adult son, Oliver.

For more information on the week-long festivities, those interested can visit the inauguration website at westliberty.edu/inauguration.