The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) was recognized for the 11th time as a Great College to Work For in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual report on academic workplaces.
The 2026 report recognizes WVSOM in five categories: job satisfaction and support; compensation and benefits; professional and career development programs; mission and pride; and faculty experience.
WVSOM is also included on the publication’s Honor Roll for the ninth time, a distinction awarded to institutions that are cited most often across all categories.
Of the 171 institutions participating in the 2026 Great Colleges to Work For survey, 76 received recognition and 42 received Honor Roll distinction. The survey, administered by ModernThink, an organizational development and management consulting firm, asked faculty and staff of WVSOM and other higher education institutions to evaluate their workplace through a series of questions.
Results are reported for small, medium and large institutions, with WVSOM included among small institutions — those with 500 to 2,999 students. With its Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences programs combined, WVSOM enrolls more than 870 students each academic year.
James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., WVSOM’s president, is the school’s longest-serving employee, with 40 years of service. Nemitz said he is pleased that the school is known as an institution where people find their work to be satisfying.
“What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it comes from our employees,” he said. “When our people tell The Chronicle of Higher Education that WVSOM is a great place to work, it lets us know we’ve created an environment where they feel productive and have opportunities to grow. I believe that maintaining a workplace where talented people want to build careers is an essential part of educating tomorrow’s physicians.”
WVSOM has a history of employee longevity. The school currently has 313 employees, with 137 (44%) having served the institution for at least 10 years, 37 (12%) for at least 20 years and 10 (3%) for at least 30 years.
Leslie Bicksler, the school’s chief human resources officer, said WVSOM has fostered a sense of connectedness and collaboration among those who work to make the school a leader in medical education.
“WVSOM has some of the best employees anywhere,” Bicksler said. “Our faculty and staff care deeply about our students, our mission and one another. They bring creativity, dedication and a willingness to work together that makes WVSOM a special place. Being recognized again as a Great College to Work For reflects the culture they have created and sustained. It is a place where people are valued, supported and empowered to make a difference every day.”
