University of Charleston President Ed Welch announced on November 27, 2007 that Charles Ryan has been named Dean of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Charleston, effective December 1, 2007.

Welch called Ryan's appointment a major win for the new graduate school that expects to begin offering classes next fall. “Charles Ryan's career founding, running and growing four successful businesses in West Virginia and Washington, D.C. brings to the graduate school a wealth of knowledge and experience that will enable the University to fulfill in a superlative manner the practical needs of West Virginia's business community,” Welch said.