Dr. Jerry Wallace '09: From Laker Student-Athlete to National Higher Education Leader

Since graduating from Grand Valley State University in 2009, Dr. Jerry Wallace has continued to build a career defined by leadership, service, innovation and a deep commitment to student success. After accepting his first community college president job at 35 years old, at 42, he has now transitioned to be a 4-year college/university President at WVU Potomac State College.  

A proud native of Muskegon, Michigan, Jerry came to Grand Valley as a student-athlete, competing in both men's basketball and track and field. His experience as a Laker helped shape the leader he would become. As a first-generation college student, he has often spoken about the importance of the teammates, coaches and mentors who helped him navigate college and find his path. GVSU later welcomed him back to campus as a keynote speaker during its 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Week, where he shared his personal story, family history and perspective on leadership, educational opportunity and overcoming barriers.

Since his last Laker Landing update five years ago, Dr. Wallace's career has continued to accelerate. After serving as president of the Hastings Campus of Nebraska Central Community College, Jerry became the seventh president of Danville Community College in Virginia in 2022. During his tenure, DCC experienced six consecutive semesters of enrollment growth, expanded community engagement and launched workforce programs designed to connect students with regional employment opportunities, including CDL truck-driving training.

Jerry also developed innovative ways to connect the college with the community. His "People and Places" initiative brought him directly into conversations with local leaders and stakeholders, while his work with "Ace the Prez Pup" used children's literacy and storytelling to introduce young students to higher education in a memorable and approachable way. He also participated in community service and read to more than 2,500 elementary students across three school districts.

His leadership was recognized nationally when he was named one of Virginia Business Magazine's Top 100 People to Meet in 2023 and received the Young Professionals PACE Award from the Danville-Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce. In 2024, he received the Rising Star Award from the Rural Community College Alliance, recognizing emerging leaders who demonstrate exceptional promise and dedication to rural community colleges.

In December 2024, Jerry returned to West Virginia to become president of West Virginia University Potomac State College. The move brought him back to a state where he had previously served in higher education and allowed him to lead an institution with a strong commitment to accessible, student-centered education. WVU President Gordon Gee described Jerry as a leader whose experience and vision could help Potomac State grow and better serve students and communities.

His first year at Potomac State was transformational. Under Jerry's leadership, full-time enrollment increased more than 20 percent from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025, growing from 1,077 to 1,304 students. The expansion of the Metro Tuition Rate helped make a Potomac State education more affordable for students from surrounding states, while participation in the ACCESS and Level Up programs nearly doubled. The college also expanded academic and student-life opportunities, including the addition of track and field and the full accreditation of its Surgical Technology program.

Jerry's leadership has also produced remarkable results in philanthropy and community engagement. Donor support increased from approximately $300,000 to more than $1 million during the 2024-25 year, including the largest Day of Giving in Potomac State history. Jerry and his wife, Allyson, also established the Wallace Brothers Scholarship to provide additional support for students and reinforce a culture of giving back.

Beyond enrollment and fundraising, Jerry has focused on rebuilding institutional culture and strengthening relationships among students, employees, alumni, community partners and the broader WVU system. Initiatives such as All College Meetings, the President's Catamount Chat Tour, the PSC Retiree Breakfast, increased alumni engagement and monthly presidential communications have helped create a stronger sense of connection and pride across campus.

What makes Jerry's career especially meaningful to me is that, despite all of these accomplishments, the foundation of his leadership has never changed. He remains the same person who came to Grand Valley from Muskegon as a student-athlete with big aspirations and a willingness to work for every opportunity. Grand Valley helped give him the foundation to become the leader he is today. He has since carried the lessons of his Laker experience into classrooms, boardrooms, communities and college campuses across the country.