Daniel Kimble
Daniel Kimble serves as director of state relations and senior adviser. In that role, he works with both state and local entities and their ongoing relationships with WVU. He comes to this position having served as counsel to the Secretary of State (2004-07) and as chief of staff and counsel to the West Virginia Speaker of the House (2007-13). In addition, Daniel was the CEO of the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce from 2013-16. Since 2018, he has served on the staff of the WVU College of Law, where he teaches legislative drafting and legislative process. He is also a retired United Methodist clergy, having served 23 years in that role. Daniel has a BA from West Virginia Wesleyan College; a master’s and doctorate from United Theological Seminary; a master’s degree in business administration from WVU; and a doctor of jurisprudence from the WVU College of Law.
GET TO KNOW DANIEL
Question: Where are you from? What made you move to/represent West Virginia?
Answer: I grew up in Fort Ashby, West Virginia. I went to college at WVU Potomac State College for one year before transferring to West Virginia Wesleyan. Other than three years of my life that I spent in seminary in Dayton, OH, I’ve lived all my life in West Virginia. It is my home, and I’m deeply rooted in its people and communities.
Question: Tell me about your family.
Answer: I have a wife and five kids who bleed gold and blue. In fact, four out of five of my kids are WVU graduates and my wife was a WVU employee for 34 years, retiring from the Department of Pediatrics in 1991. We are also blessed to have seven grandkids who live locally and keep us busy with dance recitals and ball games.
Question: What do you do in your spare time?
Answer: My wife and I love taking road trips across West Virginia, often embarking on 4–6-hour drives across the state. Our family keeps us busy, but we cherish every moment, whether it’s attending a grandkid’s event or just spending quality time together.
Question: If you could describe WVU’s impact on the state in one word, what would it be?
Answer: Inspire. WVU inspires its students, faculty and community to go on to do great things. This state is constantly evolving and WVU inspires our best minds to contribute to that progress and continue shaping the future.
Question: What would you say is WVU’s greatest strength?
Answer: Our land-grant mission. After spending 23 years as a clergy person and 25 years as an attorney, I have committed a large part of my life to outreach. WVU embodies that mission, impacting all 55 counties in the state. Its outreach extends beyond the classroom, driving research, service and community engagement that create a lasting change across West Virginia.
Question: Where is your favorite place to visit in West Virginia?
Answer: Helvetia, a Swiss community in Randolph County. The people there are incredibly kind, and the community has preserved much of its heritage. There’s also an amazing, authentic Swiss restaurant that I always enjoy visiting.
Question: What is your favorite West Virginia event/tradition?
Answer: The Buckwheat Festival is a favorite for my family. My wife was even awarded Maid of Honor in the 1960s and we’ve attended almost every year. A close second would be WVU football games, which have become a special tradition for me and my boys.
Question: What is your favorite hidden gem in West Virginia?
Answer: The State Capitol. I’ve worked there for close to 15 years in various capacities and every time I walk into that building, it feels like sacred ground. It’s inspiring to me, and I have a deep appreciation for what it represents.
Question: Pepperoni roll or WVU cookie?
Answer: WVU cookie.
Question: How does your work at the state level impact WVU?
Answer: The Government Relations team plays a vital role in supporting WVU’s mission, advocating for the University and the state. A big part of what we do is playing both offense and defense. For example, we’re always monitoring legislation and bills that could impact the University, like changes to health insurance or funding for different departments and working to ensure they align with WVU’s mission.
Question: What does a day in the job look like for you?
Answer: Every day is different. If it’s a legislative session, our team starts early in the morning, preparing for the day and working late into the night at the Capitol. Outside of the legislative session, my work takes me across the state. I might be sitting down with county delegates to discuss issues that matter to their communities, working on an economic development initiative in a different county or attending a Chamber of Commerce meeting. My role is incredibly dynamic, and I love the variety of work I get to do and getting to build relationships.
Question: What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Answer: Making a tangible impact, especially with policy. For instance, thanks to a large part of our team’s efforts, we secured $2 million for Alzheimer’s research. That funding could change history and shows the meaningful outcomes we can achieve.
Question: Do you have a favorite success story of when Government Relations impacted WVU or our state?
Answer: While I haven’t been in my current role for long, I’ve seen this team accomplish incredible things. Many of our success stories lie in the ability to follow through during the most challenging times. For instance, when budgets are slim, our team is still able to secure funding, ensuring that WVU can continue to advance its impact.
Question: What is one thing you wish people understood more about what you do?
Answer: That you must deal with the hand you’re dealt, not the hand you wish you were dealt. Advocacy is about collaboration, compromise and building relationships to find common ground and help the University and the state succeed.
