Bridgeport's Mike Florio among Four to be Inducted to WVU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni 2026 Class
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on January 12, 2026
A distinguished cohort of four West Virginia University graduates will be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni in recognition of their groundbreaking achievements in business, communications and education.
This year’s inductees, Michael J. Florio, Nitin N. Kumbhani, Mary Ellen Mazey and Morris Morrison, will be celebrated during a ceremony on Friday, Jan. 30, at the Erickson Alumni Center.
“Our newest Academy inductees have shaped industries, strengthened communities and elevated what it means to be a Mountaineer,” Kevin Berry, vice president of Alumni Relations and CEO of the WVU Alumni Association, said. “Their accomplishments and character reflect the values and leadership that set WVU alumni apart.”
Michael J. Florio is a West Virginia native and a 1991 graduate of the WVU College of Law. After nine years of practicing law, Florio launched Pro Football Talk, a digital news outlet dedicated to National Football League coverage that he has owned and operated for more than 24 years. It has evolved into one of the most trusted and widely read sources for NFL news and analysis.
In 2009, Florio entered a partnership with NBC, marking a pivotal chapter in his career. He closed his law practice to focus full-time on sports media, leading to 16 seasons of weekly appearances on “Sunday Night Football” and the launch of “PFT Live,” a weekday show airing on NBCSN, Peacock, SiriusXM and Sky Sports. Pro Football Talk now attracts hundreds of millions of annual visits, and “PFT Live” reaches a daily audience in the hundreds of thousands. Throughout his career, Florio has interviewed some of the most influential figures in professional football, including players, coaches, executives and team owners.
A prolific writer, Florio has authored six books, including his latest novel, “Big Shield,” which is currently in early development as a television series. His 2025 short story, “The Summons,” is being adapted as a feature film by Platinum Dunes. Raised in Wheeling, Florio has lived in Bridgeport for more than three decades with his wife, Jill, and their son, Alex. Despite his national platform, the Florio family has remained proudly rooted in West Virginia.
Originally from Mumbai, India, Nitin Kumbhani earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from what is now the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in 1971. Through connections formed at the University, Kumbhani began his career developing software for automated teller machines and banking systems, when digital financial infrastructure was still in its infancy.
Kumbhani’s first company, Source Data Systems, helped pioneer ATM software in collaboration with more than 100 major banks across the United States and worldwide. A Fortune 500 company later acquired the company, and his entrepreneurial leadership positioned him as a trailblazer in the emerging financial technology sector.
In 1987, Kumbhani founded the firm that would become Apex Capital Management, following his second passion for investment management, and pioneered the small- and mid-cap investment category in the United States.
His professional excellence has continued to earn recognition. He was awarded a WVU Presidential Honorary Degree in 2024 following his 2023 induction into the Statler College Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Distinguished Alumni Academy.
Mary Ellen Mazey is a native of Greenbrier County and proud University graduate. A Benedum Scholar, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1972 from what is now the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences before completing her doctoral degree at the University of Cincinnati. She began her academic career on the faculty at the University of Cincinnati and later joined Wright State University, where she held several leadership roles, including center director and department chair.
While at Wright State, Mazey was selected by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to serve as director of the Office of University Partnerships, overseeing funding for colleges and universities nationwide. Upon returning to Wright State, she became the first female dean of the College of Liberal Arts, the university’s largest college. In that role, she established an annual arts event that continues more than two decades later and has raised more than $1 million in support of student scholarships.
Mazey went on to become the first female dean of the WVU Eberly College in 2005, where she worked to expand external funding and elevate recognition of faculty and student achievement. She later served as Auburn University’s first female provost before being selected as president of Bowling Green State University in 2011. During her tenure at BGSU, she led major academic initiatives that strengthened enrollment and student preparedness, and launched a capital campaign that raised more than $250 million to support scholarships, facilities and endowed professorships. Now retired, Mazey continues to raise scholarship support for students at Wright State, WVU and BGSU and resides in West Chester, Ohio.
Morris Morrison is a 2004 graduate of the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics Master of Science in Industrial Relations and Human Resources program, with a professional career spanning banking, human resources, sales and global brand development. He began his career with BB&T Bank and Pfizer before launching his own firm, building a client portfolio that today represents organizations with an estimated combined valuation in the trillions of dollars, including Walmart, the National Basketball Association, Microsoft, Pfizer, and numerous universities nationwide.
A best-selling author and internationally recognized speaker, Morrison is a 2026 nominee for induction into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame. His audiences range from corporate executives and professional athletes to students, educators and public sector leaders. He is also currently developing an eight-episode Netflix series in collaboration with Paramount Pictures and Atlas Entertainment.
Raised in Fairmont, Morrison maintains strong ties to his alma mater and home state. He previously served six years on the WVU Alumni Board of Directors and currently serves on the Chambers College Visiting Committee. He lives with his wife, Lisa, and daughter, Dori, and continues to credit the University as a formative influence on his professional and personal journey.
In addition to the Jan. 30 induction ceremony, this year’s Academy inductees will be honored during a special on-court recognition at the WVU vs. Baylor men’s basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Hope Coliseum.
Since its founding in 1988, the Academy of Distinguished Alumni has recognized 130 WVU alumni whose work has made a lasting impact in their fields and communities.
