Photo by Derek Redd New Wheeling University President Dianna Vargo addresses WU students, faculty and staff Friday after her new role was announced.

WHEELING — The search for Wheeling University’s new president ultimately circled back to the university’s own campus.

Diana Vargo — the former Ohio County Schools superintendent and Wheeling Park High School principal who had been serving as WU’s chief operating officer — was announced as the university’s new president Friday following its Mass of the Holy Spirit celebration. With this appointment, officials feel Vargo is the best person to steer the university out of what had been turbulent waters.

They’re confident in that because they believe she’s already done it over the past few months.

“I saw that she grabbed things that needed to be done and did them,” said The Most Rev. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese, who made the announcement Friday. “Some good things are going on here and she’s been very much a part of making that happen.”

Vargo said that the entire university will continue working to make WU even better.

“We always look at the curriculum we’re providing and meeting all of our accreditation standards, and looking for innovative ways to provide opportunities for our students to excel,” she said. “And of course, we’re looking at all of our facilities, all of our extracurricular programs, our athletic programs, so that our students here have a great experience of being a Cardinal.”

Vargo had been serving as the university’s COO since Feb. 20, after the WU Board of Trustees suspended former president Ginny Favede and relieved her of all duties. Favede’s contract ultimately was not renewed.

Vargo has a long history in Ohio Valley education. She is the former principal at Wheeling Park High School and served as both assistant superintendent and superintendent for Ohio County Schools. Before becoming COO, she was director of education programs at WU.

Vargo also serves on the Wheeling Hall of Fame Committee, as a member of the City of Wheeling Municipal Service Commission and as a member of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Executive Board.

That experience played a major part in the university Board of Trustees ultimately selecting Vargo for the job, said Board Chair David Hendrickson.

“Dr. Vargo is a natural born leader,” he said. “She is loved and adored by all on the Wheeling University campus. The university is extremely lucky to have her as the next president. She stepped up in a time of need and has done much to ensure the future of the university.”

The university had dealt with a rocky recent past. The Higher Learning Commission removed the university from probation in February 2023, but WU dealt with facility repair issues this past February. Twenty-five students were temporarily moved out of their dorm rooms and into other spaces in February after water pipes installed at Ignatius Hall in the early 1990s had become compromised and were causing moisture issues.

Brennan acknowledged those tough times, and said it was Vargo who really helped steer the university through those difficulties and into a better position. Wheeling University welcomed 280 new students to campus in August, exceeding its projection of 250 new students.

“Those are good signs that we got, I think, an excellent leader,” Brennan said. “We’re getting many things lined up for this school to prosper, and we need to continue to build on it.”

Vargo said she was extremely grateful to Brennan and the Board of Trustees for entrusting her with the position. It’s not just a great opportunity for her, she added, but for the entire faculty and staff to reinforce the university’s academic mission and continue to strengthen its ties to the surrounding community.

“The focus of the faculty and staff has remained the same,” Vargo said, “staying dedicated and committed to the growth of our students.”