Les Carpenter

After 31 years of service to WVU, Carpenter retired in 2018. Prior to his retirement, he served as the chief business officer in the Division of Student Life for 15 years. In that role, he oversaw the budgets for more than 25 Student Life units, including Student Affairs Business Operations and Mountaineer Card Services. In 2015, Carpenter played an integral role in the expansion of Mountie Bounty to include off-campus locations, increasing flexibility and meal option variety for the WVU community.

Carpenter earned his MBA from WVU in 1983, and in 1987, he began working as an accountant in the Controller’s Office. In 1994, he accepted the position of manager for financial aid information systems, and during his time in what is now Student Financial Services, he served in several administrative positions, including as interim director.

He is fondly remembered for making frequent stops at Hardee’s on his way work to purchase dozens of breakfast biscuits that he enjoyed sharing with his colleagues. His co-workers also looked forward to the gold and blue cupcakes he brought to the office each Friday before a Mountaineer home football game.

A former choir member at the First United Methodist Church of Clarksburg, he also enjoyed playing piano, antiquing and genealogy research.

Carpenter died on May 29, 2020.