Ericke S. Cage is the 13th president of West Virginia State University. He was unanimously selected for the position on March 31, 2022, by the WVSU Board of Governors, having served the university previously since September 2021 as interim president. In June 2024, President Cage signed a new five-year contract to continue to lead the university until 2029. Under President Cage's leadership, West Virginia State University has achieved several significant milestones, including the development of a five-year university strategic plan known as Future State; the creation of a Cybersecurity Innovation Center; the launch of the university's first doctorate degree program in educational leadership; and a return to downtown Charleston with the new WVSU Center. A native of Halifax County, Virginia, President Cage came to WVSU from Norfolk State University where he served as executive advisor to the president and Board of Visitors. President Cage is a graduate of Virginia Tech and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He holds a juris doctorate from the Rutgers University Law School and a Master of Law degree in litigation and dispute resolution from the George Washington University Law School.

Although blindness consumed the first 4 years of his life, C Spikes born in Houston Tx and raised in Norfolk Virginia has shown that even now with only partial sight, much can be accomplished. Known to the world as a professional Musical Director, Live Music Programmer, and Drummer, he has captured the attention and worked with many national recording artist such as Portsmouth native and icon Missy Elliott, Muni Long, JLo, Brazilian Singer-Songwriter Anitta, Omarion and C-Pop Rapper Yitai Wang just to name a few.

C Spikes is currently the Live Music Programmer/Creator of Missy Elliott's first headlining Out Of This World Tour. He has done some of the biggest TV award shows such as American Music Awards 2022 with Anitta featuring Missy Elliott, Grammys 50th Hip Hop Anniversary 2023 with Missy Elliott, and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2023 with Missy Elliott. He has played at some of the biggest musical festivals such as Lovers & Friends Festival 2023 with Missy Elliott as the headliner and also did live music production for Omarion. He did Essence Festival 2023 with Missy Elliott headlining again as the most anticipated performance. He's created live music production for The Wonderful World Of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration 2022, and Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show with R&B Singer-Songwriter Muni Long. C Spikes was the live musical powerhouse behind NBA halftime shows for the Brooklyn Nets Kids, the Denver Nuggets Dancers, The Washington Wizards Dancers and the Philadelphia 76ers Entertainment. C Spikes began his journey building the C Spikes Productions brand in 2009 in Virginia Beach and has persevered through it all to be where he is today. Regarded as one of Hampton Road's emplematic musicians, C Spikes' spirit of attentiveness, perfection, perseverance, and humility makes his success everlasting and inspirational.

Want a place to donate your old canes so they can go to someone who needs them? Bring your old, used, broken or unwanted canes to the conference to donate to You Cane Give—a nonprofit organization that collects, refurbishes and distributes canes to vision impaired people in other countries. Canes will be collected at the registration table.

Learn more about the You Cane Give Initiative at their website!