Zach Thayer profile

Dr. Zachery O. Thayer is the Director of the Office of Student Success in the College of Applied Human Sciences at West Virginia University. In this role, he oversees initiatives related to student recruitment, retention, advising, career readiness, and student support services. He also supervises professional and graduate staff within the office and works collaboratively across the university to support student success efforts. 

Prior to his current role, Thayer served as Director of Graduate Programs in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics and held multiple positions within WVU’s Center for Learning, Advising, and Student Success (CLASS), including Program Coordinator for the First-Year Pathway program and Developmental Advising Specialist. 

Throughout his time at WVU, his work has focused on first-year student experience, academic advising, retention initiatives, and student development. He has taught a variety of first-year seminar and career readiness courses and has contributed to projects related to advising practices, early student intervention, and support for at-risk student populations. 

Thayer has presented on student success and advising initiatives at state and national conferences and is a member of several university committees and professional organizations, including the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Calvin University, a Master of Arts in Political Science, and a PhD in Higher Education from West Virginia University.