CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday that former state lawmaker Kayla Kessinger will serve as West Virginia’s new secretary of Tourism and Arts & History.
Kessinger will succeed Chelsea Ruby, who announced last month that she was leaving the position. Ruby had served as secretary of Tourism since 2021.
Kessinger previously represented the Mount Hope area in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2015 through 2022.
During her time in the Legislature, she served on several committees covering areas including education, judiciary, substance abuse prevention and treatment, energy, small business, economic development and veterans affairs and homeland security.
More recently, Kessinger has served as state program director for HER Plan, an organization that works with communities to connect pregnant women with medical, financial and material resources.
Morrisey appointed Kessinger to the West Virginia Ethics Commission in August 2025.
Her appointment as secretary marks a return to state government following her departure from the Legislature in 2022.
