James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., president of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM), has named Justin McAllister the school’s vice president of finance and facilities and chief financial officer.
McAllister has more than 15 years of experience in finance, most recently serving as senior vice president for strategic finance, operations and chief innovation officer for West Virginia State University. Prior to that, he was an assistant vice president with the university, then vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer.
Before joining West Virginia State University, McAllister spent 10 years with the West Virginia Office of Technology, first as an accountant/auditor and later as chief financial officer and director of administration.
Nemitz said McAllister will successfully steward WVSOM’s resources while ensuring the institution meets reporting requirements and maintains its financial integrity.
“Justin’s experience in higher education and state government gives him a deep understanding of the complex environment in which a school operates,” Nemitz said. “His combination of financial expertise, strategic vision and insight into how policy affects educational institutions make him the ideal candidate to play this crucial role in shaping our financial future.”
As WVSOM’s chief financial officer, McAllister will serve as a key advisor on matters related to finance, budgeting and facilities. His responsibilities will include overseeing financial planning and forecasting to support short- and long-term strategic decisions. He will lead the development and management of the institutional budget and ensure effective accounting, fiscal reporting and budgetary controls.
The West Virginia Office of Technology is West Virginia’s central information technology organization providing IT services for all state executive branch agencies. During his eight years as chief financial officer, McAllister assisted in the final stages of IT consolidation. After the consolidation was complete, he led a team focused on standardizing systems and software as well as renegotiating contracts with software and hardware companies.
“Because we were taking 50 agency contracts and putting them into one large-scale contract, we renegotiated to gain efficiencies,” McAllister said. “Then we worked to make sure the cost savings from these efficiencies were getting passed through to the agencies and ultimately to the citizens of West Virginia.”
At West Virginia State University, McAllister helped drive financial transparency and sustainability. His accomplishments include working with the senior leadership team to develop the Yellow Jacket Pledge, which created new financial aid pathways for West Virginia students and pledged additional education and professional development to any graduate who was unemployed 12 months after earning a degree.
McAllister’s priorities as WVSOM’s chief financial officer include strategic alignment and transparency. He said he is committed to servant leadership and that he is grateful for the opportunity to help the school maximize its financial health.
“I’m excited to join a community where everyone shares a deep commitment to making a difference. Finance, at its core, is not just about managing dollars – it’s about trust and responsibility. Every decision we make ultimately affects the students, faculty, staff and the communities we serve. My role is to ensure our financial strategies remain transparent, sustainable and mission-focused,” he said.
McAllister has an executive master’s degree in forensic accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and business administration, both from the University of Charleston.
