AMHERST — Less than two years since taking the helm as chancellor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Javier Reyes interviewed as a finalist to become the next president of West Virginia University.

The West Virginia job ended up going to Coastal Carolina President Michael T. Benson on Monday, a university spokesperson in Morgantown confirmed, though the other finalists were not named.

April Kaull, executive director of communications for the university, said the choice followed a closed selection process. “We cannot confirm the names of the finalists, with the exception of Michael T. Benson who was hired,” Kaull said.

Reyes, though, issued a statement Wednesday confirming that he had completed an interview at West Virginia.

“West Virginia is where I spent a formative part of my career, where Maritza and I raised our kids, and where we still have deep roots,” Reyes said. “When WVU approached me about the opportunity, I felt compelled to explore it — not out of any lack of commitment to UMass, but because of the profound personal ties that shaped my family and career.

“That said, UMass is my home, and my commitment to this university remains unwavering,” Reyes said. “I am fully dedicated to our shared mission and more energized than ever to advance and transform this community for the greater good.”

The Dominion Post and MetroNews, both based in West Virginia, cited information released from the university’s Board of Governors to radio host Hoppy Kercheval in identifying Reyes, a former dean at West Virginia University’s business school, and House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw as being interviewed during an executive session on Feb. 20, when the search committee made its selection of Benson as successor to President Gordon Gee.

In February 2023, Reyes interviewed for the UMass Amherst chancellor position to succeed Kumble Subbaswamy and won the recommendation of UMass President Martin Meehan before a vote by the UMass trustees. Reyes then began his tenure as UMass chancellor on July 1, 2023, and in April 2024 was formally sworn into the position.

But following the May 7 breakup of a pro-Palestinian encampment using State Police, during which 134 people were arrested, including students, faculty and community members, UMass Amherst faculty and librarians voted no confidence in Reyes. Even before Reyes was hired for the flagship campus, faculty members had expressed concerns about Reyes’ actions at the University of Illinois Chicago that led to a faculty strike in January 2023.

While Reyes’ identity as a finalist at West Virginia is not confirmed, members of UMass unions intend to walk to the Whitmore Administration Building Thursday at noon to demand that Reyes reach an agreement on contracts. Organized by the Professional Staff Union and the University Staff Association, whose contracts expired nearly eight months ago, the unions are citing Reyes’ interest in the West Virginia position as a reason to get a deal done.

“We understand that Chancellor Reyes is out looking for work elsewhere, recently at West Virginia University,” Andrew Gorry and Brad Turner, who co-chair the Professional Staff Union, said in a statement. “However, he is currently still chancellor here at UMass Amherst, and we have work to accomplish together.”

Their concern also centers on what happened with respect to contracts at the University of Illinois Chicago.

“We understand that he struggled to reach contract agreements with unions in his last job at UIC. Unfortunately, he is having the same problems with us here at UMass,” Gorry and Turner said. “So, we are urging Chancellor Reyes to reverse course now and reach a fair agreement with campus unions immediately.”

The unions cite surveys about poor pay driving a crisis in staffing, with one in three members of the University Staff Association suffering from food insecurity, and one in four Professional Staff members working an extra job to pay their bills.

“This is not only the right thing to do for UMass, but we are confident it is the right move for his legacy.”

Kevin A. Young, associate professor of history at UMass, suggested that Reyes leaving would be beneficial for UMass.

“In these dark times, we need a courageous leader who will defend UMass Amherst against the ideological assault on free speech, academic integrity and public funding,” Young said. “If Mr. Reyes finds a job elsewhere, maybe we can find a chancellor who fits that description.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.