Shepherd University

Shepherd University is a public university in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, serving undergraduate and graduate students in the Eastern Panhandle and the broader region near the Potomac River and Washington metropolitan area. Founded in 1871, the institution began as Shepherd College State Normal School and has developed into a comprehensive university with programs in the liberal arts, business, education, nursing, and other professional fields. Its academic structure includes the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Nursing; and the College of Business. The university’s work combines classroom instruction, applied learning, and regional engagement. Shepherd operates centers and initiatives that connect academic study with public life, including the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, which supports research and civic education, and the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War, a named program focused on Civil War history. Shepherd also maintains a strong arts presence through the Contemporary American Theater Festival, which is hosted on campus in Shepherdstown and brings new American plays to the region each summer. Shepherd University serves traditional students, adult learners, and graduate students, with a mission rooted in accessible public higher education for West Virginia and neighboring communities. Its location in Jefferson County places it within reach of students from West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and the greater Mid-Atlantic. Alongside degree programs, the university emphasizes student support, campus life, and community partnerships that tie the institution closely to the cultural, educational, and economic life of the state.