Bob Wise Biography

Robert Ellsworth Wise Jr. (born January 6, 1948) is an American politician. A Democrat, Wise served as the 33rd Governor of West Virginia from January 2001 to January 2005. He also served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 until 2001. In 2005 Wise became the president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, a nonprofit organization that focuses on reforming the nation’s high schools. In 2015, North Carolina State University honored Wise with the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation’s Friday Medal which recognizes significant, distinguished and enduring contributions to education through advocating innovation, advancing education and imparting inspiration.