News Type: Campus

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College will recognize alumni who have contributed to their communities and alma mater during Homecoming 2024. Awards will be presented during the Founder’s Day Ceremony on Oct. 11 in Wesley Chapel.

Alumni Service:

Adena D. Barnette-Miller ‘03

Adena Barnette-Miller graduated from Ripley High School in 1999 and earned her undergraduate degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2003. Barnette-Miller was named the 2011 WV James Madison Memorial Foundation Fellow which funded this degree and provided her graduate-level instruction in American constitutionalism. She has won awards including  the 2021 Gilder-Lehrman Institute’s West Virginia History Teacher of the Year, the 2016 WV Daughters of the American Revolution’s Outstanding Teacher of American History, and third place in the 2016 National DAR Outstanding Teacher of American History contest. In 2023, the DAR presented Barnette-Miller with the Woman in American History Award. She also teaches AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics for the WV Department of Education’s Virtual School program. She is married to David W. Miller. Their shared passions include watching Cincinnati sports and working together to create a place-based YouTube Channel entitled “WV History with Mrs. B.” where they share stories about the Mountain State of West Virginia, its people, and its history. She is an ambassador for WVWC wherever she goes.

Dr. Benedict Tantillo III ‘74

Dr. Tantillo graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1974. His post-college endeavors were initiated as a NJ secondary-school English, Social Studies, and Phys Ed teacher which also included the start of his football and baseball student coaching passion. In addition to all of his professional achievements that would follow, this sideline extracurricular effort resulted in him being named NJ’s 1983 Baseball Coach of the Year. That tribute occurred the year he resumed his NJ teaching career after a three-year interim return to Wesleyan with his college- sweetheart wife Barbara (Liske, ’75). Here they were again part of the Wesleyan community, this time on the faculty side, Barb in the Counseling Department, Ben as Wesleyan’s assistant football coach while attaining his master’s degree. Following his first retirement in 2010, an opportunity led to five additional years as Superintendent of Schools in Duxbury, Massachusetts where his revered direction led to Duxbury High School being designated as one of the top three public high schools in the state (out of 405) by The Boston Globe, the Massachusetts Department of Education commending Duxbury Public Schools for their high state-testing status, and the National Association of Music Merchants acclaimed Tantillo’s Massachusetts region as one of the country’s best music programs.

Within three years of his term at Duxbury, he was the recipient of the 2013 Administrator Award presented by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and the Massachusetts Technology Committee. His lifelong advocacy of the value of education also includes all four of his children receiving their Bachelor’s Degrees, all from different universities.

Alumni Achievement:

Rhonda Holyfield Mangieri ‘74

Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri, a Cincinnati, Ohio resident is a 1974 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College. Rhonda was named the 94th President of The Cincinnatus Association. For Cincinnatus, she served as VP, Treasurer, and co-chair of the prestigious Donald and Marian Spencer “Spirit of America” Awards. Cincinnatus is a 104-year-old nonpartisan and non-profit organization located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mangieri also served on the Board of Directors of the FBI Cincinnati Citizens Academy Alumni Association. She also volunteers for the International Friendship Inc., AARP and provides pro bono resume and career support for individuals and leadership development training to nonprofit organizations. Over the years she has been recognized for her outstanding service. She received an Outstanding Pittsburgh Society of Association Executives Award and Slippery Rock University’s President Award for Outstanding Service. In 2021, she received AARP’s Ohio’s 2021 Andrus Award for Community Service. She has been an AARP volunteer since 2014 and has been featured in several AARP articles. For the past 36 years, she has been active in her churches; teaching Sunday school, developing curriculum, serving as a youth and missions’ leader, and teaching adult Bible Studies. She is a frequent speaker, panelist, and moderator for various non-profit and civic organizations.

Lance M. Lindauer ‘06, MBA ‘07

Lance graduated from WVWC with his BS in both International Business and Economics in 2006 (minor in Spanish) and MBA in 2007, where he was the Graduate Assistant for the Housing & Residence Life Department. While an undergraduate, he received the undergraduate International Business Student of the Year; an Outstanding Senior; and the Rao Global Awareness Award winner, amongst other academic accolades, and participated in two study abroad programs. Lance Lindauer has spent his career working across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors, all of which involved roles and initiatives related to public policy, innovation, and emerging-technology, notably AI. Lindauer is presently the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Partnership to Advance Responsible Technology (PART), a Pittsburgh-based non-governmental organization dedicated to integrating responsible and ethical technology and innovation into solving global problems via research, education, and consultation. Along with co-founding PART, He worked at the RAND Corporation for 10 years, holding roles in National Security (Director of Operations for the National Defense Research Institute) and Innovation Architecture (Principal Consultant). Lindauer is also Founder and CEO of Lindauer Holdings where he advises clients in areas such as AI, finance, healthcare, and defense manufacturing.

Dr. Rebekah Reed Honce ‘16

Honce graduated Summa cum Laude in 2016 as a biology major with a concentration in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. She immediately entered the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences: Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, in the laboratory of Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry at the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She earned her PhD in 2020, defending her dissertation entitled “Attenuation of Interferon Responses in the Obese Host and Ramifications for Influenza Virus Evolution.” students. In 2021, Rebekah received the Young Investigator Award from the American Association of Immunology. In 2020, Rebekah was interviewed with Dr. Katherine Wu in The New York Times “Studies Begin to Untangle Obesity’s Role in Covid-19,” and again in 2021 in The Atlantic in “Why No One is Sure If Delta is Deadlier.” Honce is also an accomplished artist. She has contributed cover art for the Jan 15, 2019 issue of the Journal of Virology. Honce also wrote and illustrated the children’s coloring book, “Connie has CoronaVirus.” Through her professional affiliations with the American Society for Virology and as coordinator of the Burlington, Vermont chapter of Science on Tap, she is involved in communicating and clarifying scientific findings to the public and policymakers. Outside of the laboratory, you can find her hiking with her rescue dog Maple, trying to teach tricks to her two tabby cats, or concert-going with her partner Chris (who is also a WVWC grad!)

Phyllis J. Smith ‘13

While at Wesleyan, Phyllis Smith  interned at WDTV in Bridgeport, West Virginia. She was hired as a weekend reporter in her junior year at Wesleyan. She continued to work there for two years, eventually becoming a full-time reporter and anchor. Phyllis learned the ropes at WDTV and met some of her closest friends. During her time at WTAP, Phyllis won four Ohio Associated Press awards, one West Virginia Broadcasters Association Excellence in Broadcasting award and one Virginias Associated Press award. Other awards include: Best Anchor Small Market West Virginia Broadcasters Association 2024 first place, Best Producer Ohio APME 2022 second place, Best Broadcast Writing Ohio APME 2022 second place, Best Anchor Ohio APME 2021 second place, Best Producer Ohio APME 2021 second place, and Best Producer Virginia’s AP Broadcasters 2021 second place. She has been at WTAP for nine years and enjoys being the 6 and 11 p.m. anchor and producer in her hometown of Parkersburg. Smith has been the emcee for several charitable organization events. Smith represents Wesleyan wherever she goes in a positive light. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Today, representatives from West Virginia Wesleyan College and Battlers Knob LLC have announced plans for educational offerings at the former campus of Alderson Broaddus University.   West Virginia Wesleyan plans to explore offering courses, degree programs, and training opportunities in allied health fields and a variety of other areas most immediately needed in the State and region.

President of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Dr. James Moore, said, “We are excited to take the step of becoming an educational partner for our friends at Battlers Knob, the former ABU campus. While we have several steps to complete with accreditors to be cleared to fully pursue these initiatives, Wesleyan recognizes that the strong tradition of allied health education that existed at Alderson Broaddus University is a rich history on which to build for the future. We are excited about the potential of having a presence in this community, because community for us isn’t just local — it’s statewide.” 

This partnership will allow West Virginia Wesleyan to develop programs and faculty resources at the Battlers Knob facility, backed by the College’s strong academic reputation, creating an immediate impact on north-central West Virginia and the Philippi community.   

Craig Phillips, owner of Battlers Knob LLC, said, “Battlers Knob is excited to collaborate with West Virginia Wesleyan College to introduce a much-needed allied health program on Battlers Knob’s campus. This initiative increases the number of health care providers in West Virginia while stimulating economic growth in the Philippi and Barbour County region. Since acquiring the former AB campus, Battlers Knob has been committed to finding a partner that aligns with our mission of fostering continuous economic, educational and community development. We firmly believe that this partnership with West Virginia Wesleyan College perfectly fulfills that vision.”

Representatives shared that programs are currently moving swiftly in development and that updates will be shared regularly.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 20 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

ABOUT BATTLERS KNOB LLC
Established in 2024, Battlers Knob LLC emerged from the acquisition of the former Alderson Broadus University campus in Philippi. Since then, Battlers Knob has embraced the mission of revitalizing the campus by fostering community economic development in partnership with local and state businesses and civic organizations. Battlers Knob is rapidly transforming into a sought-after destination for both public and private events, serving as a corporate venue and housing several local enterprises. By collaborating with regional organizations, Battlers Knob aims to create ongoing opportunities for economic, educational and community advancement. 

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College’s esports program under the direction of head coach Ethan Hayes is working with middle and high school programs to foster the growth of esports across the Mountain State.

Hayes was hired as the head coach of West Virginia Wesleyan College’s esports program in time for the start of year two in August 2020. The program was celebrated as being the first varsity esports program in the state of West Virginia as well as the first program in the nation to offer a varsity scholarship for the game of Fortnite.

Reflecting on four years of growth with the College’s program, Hayes said, “I am proud to look where we have grown. From the initial class of 11 students to a roster of 30-plus scholarship and walk-on athletes, Wesleyan continues to be an institution proud to offer opportunities for West Virginia students with a passion for gaming to leverage their abilities to provide themselves with a brighter future through a degree.

“One thing that was brought to my attention when I began working at Wesleyan was the College’s desire to not just be a place where students could come for esports, but act as an organization that could extend a helping hand to anyone who may be interested in fostering esports for students within their counties and towns,” Hayes said.

“This has culminated in the combined efforts of a team of teachers who have formed an organization dubbed the West Virginia Scholastic Esports League or WVSEL for short. This cohort of high school and middle school staff came together to solve some of the accessibility issues we as a state were facing in the esports world,” Hayes continued.

“As of last semester, the WVSEL has successfully launched their first free to play esports league for students, providing an alternative for any school that may find national leagues too expensive or schools that were looking for more familiar opponents than faceless schools at the national level,” Hayes said.

“These coaches serve as a shining example of the efforts Wesleyan is proud to help champion and as such we wanted to thank some of these coaches so that they may know that their hard work and efforts have not gone unnoticed by the college and by our communities.”

Thank you to Chase Jarrell, Ravenswood High School; William Cottrell, Wirt County High School; Emily Eskew, Elkview Middle School; Robert May, Cabell County Career Tech; Martin Nicolay, George Washington High School; Anita Lambert, Braxton County Middle School; Abbigale Wells, Brooke High School; Scott Vogelsong, Greenbriar East High School; Judy Pitzer, Tucker County High School; Jeremy Hubbard, Hedgesville High School; Jordan O’Dell, John Adams Middle School; Brody Potter, Saint Albans High School; Will Totten, Spring Valley High School; Corey Mease, Spring Mills High School; Tim Wine, Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center; Gerad Hunter, Ripley High School; Oscar Lopez, Doddridge County Middle School; Chris McGrew, Mid-Ohio Valley Technical Institute; Missy Taylor, St. Mary’s High School; Janelle Gamoe, West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind; Thomas Akers, Robert L. Bland Middle School; Brigette Barlow, Monongalia County School District; Deon Jones, Martinsburg High School; Karen Dawson and Trevor Hutchinson, Spring Mills Middle School.

“These coaches were the original faculty from schools who decided to take up the cause of providing more opportunity for their students to have access to esports and the scholarship and lifestyle opportunities it could provide,” Hayes said. “Without their hard work, this state would not be seeing the growth at the rate that it does and Wesleyan is deeply honored to be trusted to assist and advise the growth of the league alongside them.

“As we look forward to esports in the state, Wesleyan looks to continue our efforts of supporting schools and the WVSEL. We are excited to continue to provide a home for West Virginia students interested in esports after graduation as well as assisting the schools as they grow and create new opportunities for competition through the leagues they oversee.”

Those interested in bringing esports to their West Virginia school or in sponsoring these programs should contact Hayes at hayes.e@wvwc.edu.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia –  Alumni are invited back to their Home Among the Hills for a weekend of celebration and reunion at West Virginia Wesleyan College Thursday, Oct. 10-Sunday, Oct. 13.

The WVWC Department of Theatre and Dance will perform “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, come along for the hilarious and touching antics of six mid-pubescents vying for first place in the bee. Tickets are $10 at the door ($8 for seniors and $5 with a WVWC ID). 

The bonfire and pep rally, a reinstated tradition in its second year, will take place at 8 p.m. at the end of Camden Avenue. Show your school spirit and cheer on our fall sports teams. There will be music, snacks and limited giveaways for the first 50 people. 

Registration for all Homecoming activities begins on Friday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Rockefeller Center. While there, be sure to tour the Wesleyan Past to Present Exhibit.

The annual Johnny K. Myers Golf Tournament tees off at 9 a.m. at Bel Meadow Golf Club to benefit the golf team. Registration is required by logging on to wvwc.edu/homecoming

The Class of 1974 will have their 50th reunion social from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Others are invited to an alumni and student lunch at noon in the faculty parking lot adjacent to the Annie Merner Pfeiffer library. Tickets available at the link above or at the registration booth in Rockefeller. 

Founder’s Day Convocation with the announcement of some special alumni award winners will be held at 3 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. Join the classes of 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004 for an all classes reunion at the Event Center at Brushy Fork beginning at 7 p.m. 

A new event happening on Saturday, Oct. 12 is the WVWC Paw Parade in the Chapel Oval. Bring your favorite furry friend for the parade and blessing of the pets with Dean of the Chapel Jonathan Acord. Register at the link above. 

Young Alumni including those from the Classes of 2009, 2014 and 2019 are invited for a reunion at Jimbo’s Bar and Grill at 11:30 a.m.

At 1 p.m. WVWC will host Fairmont State for football. Come early to honor the men’s soccer National Championship teams of 1984, 1989 and 1994. 

On Sunday, Rev. Monty Brown ‘74 will speak at the Chapel Service beginning at 10 a.m. Stay on campus for the men’s soccer game vs. Point Park University at 1 p.m.

For a full list of events and registration information, visit www.wvwc.edu/homecoming

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College Associate Professor of Gender Studies  Dr. Jessica Scott ‘04 has published a new book, “Home Is Where Your Politics Are: Queer Activism In The U.S. South and South Africa.” 

A book launch will be held at Argo Books on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. in collaboration with West Virginia Wesleyan College Faculty lecture series. The event will begin with a discussion between Dr. Jessica Scott and Faculty Lecture Series coordinator Dr. Tamara Denmark Bailey. Scott will be reading selections from “Home Is Where Your Politics Are” and taking questions from the audience. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be available at the closing of the event.

“Home Is Where Your Politics Are” examines “the spatial politics of sexuality” through the experiences of advocates working to guarantee the dignity of queer and transgender people in their own context. Dr. Scott explains in their interview that many believe the narrative it is easier to live in a city such as New York or San Francisco rather than in states like West Virginia or Alabama. 

Scott states, “There is a similar narrative on the African continent- the suggestion there is that it is better to go to South Africa than to stay in Kenya or Nigeria as a queer or transgender person. The reality of hate crimes and xenophobia in American and South African cities is not taken into account in these narratives.” 

Scott earned their Ph.D. at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Cape Town is where their research began when Scott asked the question, “What is the effect of some places being characterized as hostile to queer and transgender lives?” Scott found the answers to these questions in interviews with organizers who were fighting for the rights and dignity of queer and transgender people in the U.S. South and South Africa. 

During  Scott’s time at West Virginia Wesleyan College, their teaching has been both informed by and informative for their work. Scott states that when the narrative of rural places being awful for queer and transgender individuals to live in is confronted in the classroom, reactions vary. From this, they conclude that while rural areas can feel isolating and politically challenging for queer and transgender people, cities are not panaceas for homophobia or transphobia. The more this narrative is embedded in our society, the fewer resources are available in these areas to fight homophobia and transphobia. 

Scott states, “I want readers to take away both the commitment to the dignity of queer and transgender lives that organizers embrace every day and the sense that this work is extremely underfunded. I also want readers to be able to recognize the complex ways that race, gender, and class intersect with queerness and gender identity in every context and to think about who and how they are in relation to those intersections. The organizers who show up in the book have done that difficult work and are excellent examples to emulate in thinking through our own places in the world. I, too, have tried to think through those questions about myself in order to provide a model that readers might follow in reflecting on their own place in the world – globally and locally.

“Most of all, though, I want readers to take away from the book a tenderness toward the spaces that I write about and a love and admiration for the people who live there that has nothing to do with pity.”

Scott has recently completed a year-long series of interviews with unhoused, newly housed, and housing-insecure individuals living in Clarksburg, West Virginia WV through her work as a co-director for the Center for Restorative Justice. In the future, they plan to write a book about vulnerabilities in the lives of people experiencing housing insecurity.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA – Laurel College of Technology, located in Morgantown, West Virginia, is excited to announce a new collaborative effort with West Virginia Wesleyan College, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, to allow graduates of Laurel’s 20-month Associate Degree of Nursing program to expand their education through an RN to Master of Science in Nursing opportunity. The agreement allows eligible Laurel graduates who pass the NCLEX and obtain the credentials to be a Registered Nurse through the West Virginia RN Board to  apply for enrollment in WVWC’s Master of Science in Nursing program. According to the agreement, WVWC will accept eight eligible students a year who after an individualized review for potential graduate admission meet the predetermined criteria.

Laurel’s Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) is a 71 credit program that spans over 5 semesters and is designed to prepare the graduate to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) for registered nurses and to enter a career as a beginning practitioner of nursing.  In June of 2024, Laurel received initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Public information about accreditation is disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website. Laurel has designed the courses to provide the students with an awareness of the value and dignity of people, a view of the patient as an integrated, unique individual that requires nursing knowledge and skills. The program and simulation center is reflective of Laurel’s commitment to preparing exceptional, job-ready professionals in a way that addresses the ever-increasing need for qualified nurses.

“Our program, and the students in it, are held to rigorous expectations for the safety of future patients and the care our students will provide the community,” states Doug Decker, Ph. D., Executive Vice President of Laurel Institutes. “We’re excited to see this pathway open up for our graduates. This agreement creates an additional entry point for students who want to expand on their career and professional training and complete a master’s degree.”

West Virginia Wesleyan College offers graduate programs in nursing with various pathways and points of entrance. Currently, students can choose between Master of Science in Nursing programs with specializations in Nursing Leadership or the Family Nurse Practitioner. The school also offers Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwifery options in collaboration with Shenandoah University. For the past two years, the College has offered an RN to MSN program, which allows nurses with an associate degree in nursing to complete bridge course work and then directly enroll into the MSN program. 

Coursework for the graduate programs in the School of Nursing at West Virginia Wesleyan College is offered in a hybrid format including online, asynchronous, and limited on campus residency experiences.  

“Our College is dedicated to providing flexible and accessible continuing education opportunities for nurses at all career stages,” said Dr. Lynn M. Linder, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. “This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to cultivate a highly skilled health care workforce for West Virginia. We’re thrilled to offer programs that accommodate the demanding schedules of working nurses while advancing their professional development.”

ABOUT LAUREL INSTITUTES

Founded in 1985 by Christopher and Nancy Decker, Laurel Institutes are a private, post-secondary specialized associate degree-granting, Career and Technical Education (CTE) provider with four locations throughout Western Pennsylvania, North Central West Virginia, and Northern South Carolina. Laurel College of Technology located in Morgantown, WV is licensed by the WV Council for Community and Technical College Education, WV Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists, initially accredited with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, WV RN Board, and nationally accredited as ‘School of Distinction’ by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Laurel has over 750 current students and more than 5,000 alumni across approximately 20 different AST/B Degree and Diploma programs. These programs are focused on high demand occupational classifications such as skilled trades, health care, information technology, business, cosmetology and early childhood education. Learn more at laurel.edu.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – Two UMC missionaries from Zimbabwe who use their medical degrees and knowledge in their missionary work will be sharing their stories with West Virginia Wesleyan College students and the community on Monday, Sept. 16.

The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life along with Rev. Dean Cole, West Virginia United Methodist Conference Secretary of Global Ministries are hosting Dr. Emmanuel and Florence Mefor of Zimbabwe for a Buckhannon visit. 

At 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, the Black Student Union and Center for Cultural & International Affairs will host the Mefors in the side dining room of the French See Dining Hall. Interested community members are welcome. Those wishing to have dinner can pay $12 at the door.

The Mefors are missionaries with the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. Assisted to Old Mutare Hospital, Florence Mefor uses her skills as a nurse mid-wife. She earned her nursing degree from the School of Nursing in Jos and spent 14 years nursing at the Evangel Hospital in Jos. 

Emmanuel Mefor is a medical doctor also assigned to Old Mutare Hospital. He earned his degree from the University of Maiduguri College of Medicine in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. 

In addition to the public presentation, the Mefors will be meeting with several classes on Monday as well. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College has announced the addition of eight new faculty members to fill key roles in the College including a new associate provost who will help it reach its ultimate goal of providing the best experience and education for the students. Below are a few short biographies of some of the new faculty members and their accomplishments.

Dr. Christine Schimmel is the Associate Provost for the College and Practicum & Internship Coordinator for the new Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Program. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in education from Glenville State University, a Master’s in school counseling from West Virginia University, and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a cognate in school counseling from Marshall University. She has published more than five textbooks on training school and mental health counselors on topics focused on counseling children and adolescents and group counseling. Her work also includes more than 15 peer-reviewed publications on counseling-related topics. Schimmel is currently co-principal investigator on two large federal grants with SAMHSA and another with the U.S. Department of Education. She has spent over 25 years teaching and training counselors in West Virginia at Marshall University and West Virginia University. She is very excited to be joining the College and helping train clinicians at West Virginia Wesleyan College. 

Dr. Kimberly White is the Director of the School of Nursing, chairperson of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing  Program, and an associate professor. Kimberly has obtained several certifications from multiple schools which includes her ADN from Davis and Elkins, BSN from Alderson Broadus, MSN in Nursing Administration from Marshall University, and a Ph.D in nursing education from Capella University. She also completed research on Faculty Experiences with Integrating Emotional Intelligence into Nursing Curricula.

Sandra Oster is a new addition to the nursing faculty who has received her BSN and MSN from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She has been teaching Pediatrics and Mother/baby for 14 years, before which she was a NICU nurse.

Jessica Riffee– is an Assistant Professor in Health Science. Jessica received both her Bachelor of Science  and Master’s in Education degrees in exercise science from Fairmont State University and is currently working towards her dissertation defense to complete her Ph.D in Coaching and Teaching Studies at West Virginia University. Jessica has a number of published abstracts related to public health issues, physical activity, and exercise psychology. She takes advantage of every opportunity to gain experience in a range of higher roles and responsibilities, including mentoring, course development, curriculum design, accreditation activities, as well as service-based research.

John Biola, Micheal Lynch, Olabanji Olatinwo, and Robert Parker are also joining West Virginia Wesleyan College this semester.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia –  West Virginia Wesleyan College is once again bringing the campus to downtown Buckhannon for WVWC Night at Festival Fridays in Jawbone Park on August 23 from 5-8:30 p.m.

A Friday night staple in the summer hosted by community organization Create Buckhannon, Festival Fridays offers live music, food and craft vendors and a farmers market. Attendees are invited to wear their orange and black, bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the evening.

For this edition of Festival Fridays, the WVWC Marching Band under the direction of Dr. Robert Palmer and the competitive dance team led by coach Lesa Dencklau will perform at 5:30 p.m. WVWC Athletic teams will introduce themselves.

Live music from One Lane Bridge, a musical group made up of WVWC alums and current students will perform from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

West Virginia Wesleyan College alumni, be sure to stop by the WVWC Office of Alumni Affairs table at the event.

The College’s first Executive MBA cohort, on campus for a brief residency, will also have a presence at the event. Stop by and learn more about this flexible, online degree program geared towards working professionals.

There will be yard games including corn hole and spike ball.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – This week, West Virginia Wesleyan College will welcome over 360  new undergraduate students for Orientation Weekend.  Officials at the College project total enrollment to be up 5% over 2023 and 10% over 2022.  The new student cohort comes to WVWC from 28 states and 13 countries, with 40 West Virginia counties represented. 

John Waltz ’01, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, remarked, “I am thankful for the work of our talented enrollment professionals, coaches, and the campus community for helping connect this amazing new student class to the state’s premier education.  The challenges and delays created by the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) were met by unmatched Wesleyan personal attention and care, ensuring each family was assisted through a daunting process.   I couldn’t be prouder of our team.” 

Over half of all incoming freshmen hold a 3.5 GPA or above and more than 20% will receive a West Virginia Promise Scholarship.  The College has seen a 20% increase in enrollment of freshman West Virginia residents over 2023.

Wesleyan is also experiencing growth in its graduate programs, with a 40% increase in graduate students over 2023.   Recent launches of a Master of Art in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) have added to Wesleyan’s thriving graduate offerings in Nursing, Athletic Training, and Creative Writing.  

President of the College Dr. James Moore is excited about the trajectory of West Virginia Wesleyan.  

“This marks the second year that West Virginia Wesleyan College has experienced real enrollment growth,” he said. “I’m confident that this is due in large part to the fact that students and their families realize that this College is among the best in the nation. We train leaders, and I believe we’re the finest academic institution in our state and our region.”

Over 60% of the new student class plans to participate in athletics. Well over 50 freshmen are receiving creative and performing arts scholarships and 25 students will participate in the Community Service Scholars Program.  Popular major choices include Business, Pre-Nursing, Exercise Science, Criminal Justice, Biology, Psychology, Education, Health Science, Physics, and Music Education.  

To read more about 2024 Orientation activities, visit www.wvwc.edu/orientation.  

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and clinical mental health counseling; 21 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.