Olivia Miller is a 10th generation West Virginian who grew up in Tucker County at the headwaters of the Cheat River, surrounded by the Monongahela National Forest and the incredible rivers that define the Mountain State. That place shaped her and her vision for a better future for West Virginians — one where her family, friends, and neighbors can thrive.

Olivia moved to Morgantown in 2015 and chose to put her roots down here. She and her fiancé bought their first home in Westover in 2023. A proud West Virginia University graduate, Olivia spent five years working for WVU in media and communications, and for the past seven years she’s also written for West Virginia Executive Magazine, telling the stories of the great businesses and people of the state. 

Hard work, public service, and dedication runs in her family. Olivia is the granddaughter of a 30-year union coal miner (UMWA Local 1444) who fought for union rights on the picket line. She was raised with a deep respect for working people and the pride that comes with being a West Virginian. Her family’s commitment to community leadership stretches back generations: her great-great-grandmother, Eva Cross, was Tucker County’s first female county commissioner and part of the historic all-female “petticoat” government in 1967. Olivia also learned the importance of strong community support systems by watching her mom spend 35 years building community and strengthening families through social services programs with the Family Resource Network—and by volunteering alongside her in those programs for most of her life.

Today, Olivia is the first Executive Director-Designate of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. She’s a nature-lover, outdoor enthusiast, and someone who believes West Virginia can be a place where people can stay, work, raise families, and live healthy and full lives. Olivia is running because she’s proud of where she comes from–and she’s ready to fight for a future we’ll be proud to pass on to future generations.