Eberly News

Scientist Jennie Hunter-Cevera to receive honorary degree at Eberly College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:35:00 EST

Scientist and West Virginia University alumna Jennie Hunter-Cevera will be recognized Sunday with the highest honor an institution can bestow — an honorary degree.

Hunter-Cevera, whose career in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries spans 22 years, will be honored during the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate commencement ceremony. The honorary degree is reserved for eminent individuals with national or international reputations.

She is the founder of Hunter and Associates, a consulting firm focusing on finding integrative solutions to complex problems in the life sciences arena that include sustainability issues.

Hunter-Cevera founded The Biotic Network and Blue Sky Laboratory and spent five years as the head of the Center for Environmental Biotechnology at the E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

In addition, Hunter-Cevera served for 10 years as the president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. Most recently, she was executive vice president of discovery and analytical sciences, government relations, public relations and corporate development at RTI International.

Hunter-Cevera holds 15 patents in natural products and enzymes. She specializes in screen design for the discovery of natural compounds in the areas of human therapeutics, nutraceticals, biodefense, sustainable agriculture, bioremediation and biocatalysis for industrial processes in the food and clothing industries.

Named one of Maryland’s Top 50 Influential People and Top 100 Women, Hunter-Cevera’s other award recognitions include the Porter Award from the American Society for Micriobiology (ASM) for distinguished research in microbial systematics and taxonomy. She also was elected as a SIM fellow, a member of the ASM Academy of Microbiology and an American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow.

Hunter-Cevera completed her bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in microbial ecology from WVU. She earned her doctorate in microbial physiology and biochemistry from Rutgers University. Because of her outstanding academic and professional achievements, she has been named a WVU Distinguished Alumni and Nath Lecturer.

Hunter-Cevera will receive her honorary degree at the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate commencement at 2 p.m. Sunday, at the WVU Coliseum.

Visitors to http://honorarydegrees.wvu.edu/ can view the history of honorary degrees at WVU, from 1873 to the present.

For more information, contact University Relations/News at 304-293-6997

WVU Eberly Ideas discussion series presents 'Building Wealth in Uncertain Economic Times'

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:49:00 EST

The country’s economic outlook is still murky and the job market a bit of a wild card, but how is that driving lawmakers’ priorities and how should it factor into yours?

As part of the 4th Annual West Virginia Money Smart Week, the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University will host “Building Wealth in Uncertain Economic Times” 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 in room G21 Ming Hsieh Hall on the Downtown Campus. The talk is free and open to the public.

Frank Vitale, senior vice president at Clear Mountain Bank in Morgantown and Eberly College alumnus, will moderate the panel discussion.

Mike Mays, director of the Institute for Mathematics Learning, Neil Berch, associate professor of political science and Brian Luskey, associate professor of history discuss economic public policies, historical perspectives on corruption and the raw numbers behind wealth-building.

“We live in a challenging time to save and invest, but our country and our state have prospered through similar circumstances before,” said Robert Jones, dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

“The context of why, how, when and what’s next is incredibly valuable and I’m proud to have faculty members in our College that can take a topic that literally hits us in our pockets and build such an interesting knowledge-building opportunity around it.”

“Building Wealth” is the third discussion in the Eberly Ideas series, a unique forum that promotes the exchange of ideas and stimulating debate while highlighting the timely research of some of the College’s all-star faculty.

Dozens of organizations are participating in this year’s West Virginia Money Smart Week. The event aims to educate people about saving, investing, giving and spending.

“In these tough economic times, it’s important to be smart consumers. Money Smart Week events help people learn about developing good financial habits and how to better manage personal finances,” said Susan LeFew, a senior program specialist for the AARP Foundation and a member of the West Virginia Money Smart Week Planning Committee.

To RSVP to attend “Building Wealth in Uncertain Economic Times,” email ECAS@mail.wvu.edu with “Eberly Ideas” in the subject line. Include the name/s of the people attending in the body of the email.

For more information, contact Devon Copeland at 304-293-6867 or Devon.Copeland@mail.wvu.edu

WVU hosts annual Bennett Careers for Chemists Program

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:49:47 EST

Chemistry is more than just lab coats, beakers and solutions; study of the field can lead to a myriad of career choices and opportunities. On Wednesday, April 17, 2013, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., the West Virginia University C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry will explore those opportunities when it hosts the Nineteenth Annual C. Eugene and Edna P. Bennett Careers for Chemist Program.

This event is free and open to the public and will take place in The Erickson Alumni Center on the Evansdale Campus.

During the event, three professionals with degrees in chemistry will discuss their career trajectories and personal experiences.

“The program is designed to inform our undergraduate and graduate students of the wide variety of potential careers available to them as chemistry majors. It has been a great success over the past eighteen years,” C. Eugene Bennett Chair and Professor Kenneth Showalter, the event organizer said. “In a tightening job market, advice from our guest speakers provides important guidance on career development for our students.”

William Carroll, PhD

William F. Carroll, Jr., holds a doctorate in organic chemistry from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. He is currently vice president, industry issues for Occidental Chemical Corporation and also an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University.

Carroll is chair of the board of directors of the American Chemical Society, and a past president. For ACS, he has chaired the committees on executive compensation, international activities, public affairs and public relations and the executive committee of the board. He has been a member of the Budget and Finance, Pensions and Investments and Audits committees.

He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a member of the advisory board for the Tulane School of Science and Engineering. In 2009, he was chair of the Council of Scientific Society Presidents.

He has been a member of a number of committees for the National Research Council of the National Academies. He co-chaired, with Barbara Foster of WVU, the 2011 rewrite of “Prudent Practices in the Laboratory,” the definitive work on laboratory safety in the field.

On behalf of Occidental Chemical Corporation, he has chaired numerous committees for industry associations, including the American Chemistry Council and the Vinyl Institute. He has served on expert groups commissioned by the United Nations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and three states—most recently the California Green Ribbon Science Panel.

Carroll has received the Henry Hill Award, sponsored by the ACS Division of Professional Relations, the Michael Shea Award from the Division of Chemical Technicians, Distinguished Alumni Awards from both Indiana and DePauw Universities and the Vinyl Institute’s Roy T. Gottesman Leadership Award. He is the 2012 recipient of the Harry and Carol Mosher Award from the ACS Santa Clara Valley Section.

He holds two patents, and has over sixty-five publications in the fields of organic electrochemistry, polymer chemistry, combustion chemistry, incineration and plastics recycling.

Dr. Cynthia Graves

Cynthia Graves is an assistant professor in the WVU Department of Surgery. She is currently the director of the General Surgery Residency Program and has held that position since 2003. Graves’ main focus is the education and program development of the General Surgery Residency Program. Her clinical practice focuses on laparoscopic as well as open general surgical and acute care surgery procedures.

Her research interests include education and geriatric surgery. She is co-editor and co-author of the “Step Up to Surgery” textbook, which is currently in preparation for release of its second edition. In conjunction with Dr. Phil Polack, Graves has developed a communication and humanities seminar, offered to incoming first year residents in surgery. Graves was an invited panel discussant for the National Association of Program Directors conference in 2011 and 2012.

In 2007, Graves was awarded the Surgical Educators Award and in 2008 the Department of Surgery Excellence in Student Teaching Award. She has been recognized twice, in 2009 and 2012, by WVU Hospitals, National Doctor’s Day. In 2011, she was selected for membership in the Women in Science and Health Committee. She has also recently been elected to the WVU Faculty Senate.

Graves, a native West Virginian, graduated from WVU with bachelor’s degrees in both biology and chemistry. She received her medical and surgical training at WVU. She completed a trauma/critical care fellowship at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems in 1995, and spent 7 years providing trauma care at Geisinger Medical Center before returning home to WVU in 2002.

Graves currently resides in Morgantown with her husband and two children who attend University High School. She is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan and supporter of the performing arts. Since 2006, she has served as vice president of the Morgantown Hockey Association.

Glen Jackson, PhD

Glen Jackson joined the faculty of WVU in the fall of 2012. He is a Ming Hsieh Distinguished Professor of Forensic and Investigative Science. He holds a joint appointment in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry and the Forensic and Investigative Science Program. Before this appointment, he was an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and director of the Forensic Chemistry Program at Ohio University.

He earned his undergraduate degree in chemical and analytical science at University of Wales, Swansea in the United Kingdom and his master’s degree in analytical chemistry from Ohio University during a year abroad in 1996-1997. He earned his doctorate in analytical chemistry from WVU in 2002.

After completing his doctorate, Jackson worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before joining the faculty of Ohio University in 2004. He earned early tenure and promotion in 2009, when he also assumed directorship of the FEPAC-accredited Forensic Chemistry Program until his departure in 2012. While at Ohio University, he received the Transformative Faculty Award for his dedication and inspiration of undergraduates and graduate students through his teaching and research.

Jackson’s research includes mass spectrometry instrumentation development, forensic and biological applications of mass spectrometry and isotope ratio mass spectrometry. His research has appeared in more than 36 publications, more than 100 conference and university presentations and two issued patents. In 2007, he was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award to construct a new type of miniature, portable mass spectrometer with forensic-related applications. During his eight years at Ohio University, his grants helped secure more than $1.9 million in extramural support from funding agencies.

Jackson currently serves on the science advisory board for Protea Biosciences, Inc., is a panelist and grant reviewer for NSF and is the chair of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Asilomar Conference Committee and ASMS Fundamentals Interest Group.

He has taught several forensic-related mass spectrometry workshops to practicing forensic professionals, has served on several forensic education committees and workshops and is an active forensic chemistry consultant. He has appeared on Nancy Grace Live and his published research on trace human remains was once covered in an episode of Law and Order SVU.

The first C. Eugene and Edna P. Bennett Careers for Chemists Program took place in 1995. The program has been made possible through the generosity of C. Eugene Bennett and Edna Bennett Pierce and the Bennett Family, who established in 1994 the C. Eugene and Edna P. Bennett Careers for Chemists Program and the C. Eugene Bennett Chair in Chemistry at West Virginia University. In addition, they have established the C. Eugene Bennett Chemistry Program Enhancement Fund, the C. Eugene Bennett Graduate Fellowship Program in Chemistry and the C. Eugene Bennett Academic Enrichment Endowment through the WVU Foundation.

The WVU Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation that generates and provides support for WVU.

For more information, contact Kenneth Showalter, at 304-293-0124 or Kenneth.Showalter@mail.wvu.edu

WVU chemist takes aim at more accurate test for gunshot residue

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:09:00 EST

How many times have you seen a case closed on television using a gunshot residue test? Given how frequently it pops up on cop shows, you would think the test is widely used and easy to interpret. On television and in movies, if the suspect has gunshot residue on their hands, they definitely fired the gun.

Surprisingly, current methods of gunshot residue analysis focus on detecting residues from the primer, the part of the cartridge case that ignites the powder, and this residue is easily lost or transferred from one surface to another through contact as simple as a hand shake or high five.

“Results from primer residue analysis alone, the test most frequently used to determine if someone has fired a gun in criminal cases, can be difficult to interpret. For example, a person may have primer residue on their hands or clothing, but it could have gotten there by other means than that person firing a gun,” Suzanne Bell, PhD, said.

Bell, an associate professor at West Virginia University in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, is currently researching more effective gunshot residue analysis methods with an $181,412 grant from the Research Triangle Institute, International.

“By focusing on the primer residue alone, the organic residues of the gunpowder are ignored,” Bell said. “These organic propellant residues are potentially a rich source of physical evidence.”

Currently, here are no widely accepted tests for the analysis of the organic components of gunshot residue. Bell’s method analyzes the primer residues as well as the organic propellant residues using existing commercial instrumentation already used at airports to screen for explosives. The goal is to combine both pieces of test data to answer more definitively and more quickly, “Did this person fire a gun in the last few hours?” The data is evaluated using statistical methods and neural networks which can be automated for rapid response in field situations like crime scenes or the battlefield.

Bell says that many of the organic components of gunshot residue cling to skin and some are actually absorbed through the skin in the same way drugs in time-release patches are absorbed. Because of this, the organic materials are less likely to be lost or transferred and as such, have the potential to provide a greater level of confidence when trying to determine if a person has or has not recently fired a weapon.

When the trigger of a gun is pulled, the particulate primer residue along with vaporized organic materials from the propellant condenses, with significant amounts ending up on the shooter’s hand. By taking swabs of people’s hands, Bell can test for the organic materials on the surface of the skin or those that may have been absorbed into the skin.

“When complete, this research will help law enforcement and military personnel more definitively determine if a suspect has fired a gun recently,” Bell said.

Bell is conducting her research at Oglebay Hall, the WVU Crime Scene House Complex and local firing ranges with students in the WVU Forensic and Investigative Science Program.

Suzanne Bell received her doctorate in chemistry at New Mexico State in 1991 and joined the Mountaineer family in 2003. She is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and a fellow of the American Board of Criminalistics in the area of forensic drug analysis.

For more information, contact Suzanne Bell at 304-293-8606 or Suzanne.Bell@mail.wvu.edu

WVU's Eberly College builds new career development program for students

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:41:00 EST

The West Virginia University Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is investing in a new career development program for undergraduate students, and has recruited a talented individual to lead the effort: Bonnie McBee Fisher.

“I’m very excited to be part of the Eberly College’s effort to transform its undergraduate learning environment. The critical student services that we will be developing are anticipated to dramatically assist new graduates with post baccalaureate transitions,” Fisher said.

The broad goal of the initiative, tied directly to the Eberly College’s 2020 Strategic Plan, will enrich students’ undergraduate study through the participation in experiential opportunities. The College will initially focus on increasing student involvement in internships, which are very powerful and important experiences, often leading directly to jobs immediately after graduation.

“The initiative will also track and grow other out-of-the-classroom experiences, including service learning, study abroad, teaching, research and others,” Dean Robert Jones said. “Experiences such as these not only deepen learning, they also grow appreciation for how learning can be tied to careers. Our goal is to have 100 percent of Eberly College majors involved in at least one experiential learning program by 2020.”

Fisher will build new external connections to expand the number of internship opportunities for Eberly students and other learning venues including research opportunities, teaching practicums and study abroad.

“Bonnie knows all of the college’s programs and most of the faculty, and has cultivated many relationships with alumni and friends of the college, many of whom have an interest in providing education opportunities for our student interns,” Dean Jones said.

Fisher is the former director of development for the Eberly College. In that role, she assisted the college in raising over $40 million in support of student scholarships and college programs. Prior to her work with the Eberly College, Fisher was the director of development for the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. She received her BA and MA in history from WVU in 1983 and 1986, respectively.

Alumni and friends can contact Bonnie Fisher at 304-293-9208 or via e-mail at Bonnie.Fisher@mail.wvu.edu, to establish partnership opportunities with the College.

WVU Career Services hosts second annual Mocktail Party and Fashion Show

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:29:00 EST

If you want to become more attractive to potential employers, you need to have an edge over the other applicants. Proper dress, behavior, manners and smooth communication skills are critical components of becoming truly career ready.

The West Virginia University Career Services Center and the Office of Student Affairs wants to help you land the first job by hosting the second annual University-wide Mocktail Party and Fashion Show.

The event is February 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. This professional development and networking event with Human Resource representatives is an interactive workshop specifically designed for juniors, seniors and graduate students who will be seeking internships or careers in the near future. The event will teach students how to be successful at career fairs, conduct themselves in formal and informal interviews and dress appropriately as a professional.

Light appetizers will be served and there will be drawings for prizes throughout the evening, including a iPad Mini.

For more information, contact Sarah Glenn at Sarah.Glenn@mail.wvu.edu.

WVU's Perone named associate dean for faculty in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:05:00 EST

Michael Perone, PhD, has been named the associate dean for faculty in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University.

The associate dean for faculty is part of the senior leadership team in the Eberly College, and is responsible for a large number of faculty related processes ranging from hiring and mentoring through promotion, sabbatical leave, and a host of other aspects of faculty life.

In his first year in the position, Perone hopes to roll out the College’s custom version of Digital Measures, a software system for archiving records of faculty achievements and generating reports for faculty evaluation committees, department chairs, deans and other administrators. He also will manage the College level of the promotion and tenure process, review faculty workload plans, and, in the next academic-year cycle, support the hiring of new faculty members and postdoctoral research associates.

“Our 2020 Strategic Plan goal to be the ‘the best place’ to work includes hiring quality faculty and then nurturing and supporting them once here,” Robert Jones, Dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences said. “With the appointment of Mike Perone, we are reiterating our commitment to provide our faculty the support and advocacy necessary to ensure successful careers here at WVU, from the moment they interview until retirement.”

Perone, who began his career at WVU in 1984, is a professor in the Department of Psychology. He received his PhD in psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1981. In 1982, he was assistant professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He has made substantial contributions to behavior analysis through his research, service, administration, and teaching. He is well known for his programmatic research on conditioned reinforcement, avoidance, and transitions from rich to lean schedules of reinforcement, and more generally for the elegance and ingenuity of his experimental methodology. He has secured support from National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Occupational Safety and Health Association and the National Science Foundation for much of his research. His investigations with animals and extensions of basic mechanisms to humans serve as a prototype for research translation.

Perone’s accomplishments in administration, service to the discipline, and teaching are similarly noteworthy. He served for 12 years as chair of the West Virginia University Department of Psychology, one of the foremost programs in behavior analysis. He has served as president of Association for Behavioral Analysis International (twice), Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Analysis, Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the Southeastern Association for Behavioral Analysis International. He has been appointed to key editorial positions for major journals in behavior analysis, represented behavior analysis on the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences, and served on numerous committees.
In each of those roles, his skill and humor have been instrumental in bringing a charge to effective completion. Dr. Perone has received numerous awards for his teaching and mentoring, which, along with the successes of his former students, are testaments to his effectiveness in that arena as well.

For more information, please contact Michael Perone at (304) 293-1785 or via e-mail at Michael.Perone@mail.wvu.edu.

WVU Calliope submission deadline December 15

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST

Calliope, WVU’s Undergraduate Literary Magazine, is still accepting submissions for the 2013 edition.

Undergraduates from any major can submit up to three pieces of prose (fiction or nonfiction), up to 2,000 words per piece; up to five pieces of poetry, up to 500 words per poem; and up to three pieces of artwork, which can be a painting, drawing, photograph, sculpture—anything.

If you are submitting a piece of prose, please specify if it is fiction or nonfiction. Also, if your artwork is not in digital form, please either scan it or take a picture of it in order to submit it.

Submissions can be emailed to wvucalliope@gmail.com.

The deadline is Saturday, December 15, 2012.

WVU's award-winning undergraduate literary magazine accepting submissions for 2013 edition

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:53:00 EST

Are you interested in being published in an award-winning literary magazine?

Calliope, WVU’s undergraduate literary magazine, is now accepting submissions for the 2013 edition.

Undergraduates from any major can submit up to three pieces of prose (fiction or nonfiction), no more than 2,000 words per piece; up to five pieces of poetry, no more than 500 words per piece; and up to three pieces of artwork, which can be a painting, drawing, art photograph, or photography of a sculpture, pottery—anything classified as fine art, craft or folk art.

Submissions can be emailed to wvucalliope@gmail.com. The deadline for submission is Saturday, December 15, 2012.

For more information, please contact Natalie Carpini, editor, at ncarpini@mix.wvu.edu.

Eberly College honors outstanding alumni with Departmental Alumni Awards

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:10:53 EST

The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences’ Departmental Alumni Recognition Award Program allows departments within the Eberly College to honor successful alumni for their civic leadership, social welfare activities, professional life, business life and intellectual and cultural pursuits. Established in 2006, this program not only recognizes individuals who proudly represent their department or program but also applauds those whose lives reflect the excitement gained from a broad arts and sciences education.

This year’s Departmental Alumni Awards program will take place on Saturday, October 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Erickson Alumni Center.

Alumni from the Departments of physics, psychology and geology and geography, the Forensic and Investigative Science Program and the School of Social Work will be honored.

William Amatucci, from Latrobe, Pa., received both his master’s degree and doctorate in plasma physics from WVU in 1991 and 1994. He currently works in the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C., as the section head/research physicist in the Space Experiments Section. In this position, Amatucci has developed the NRL Space Physics Simulation Chamber Laboratory into a world-class facility for the investigation of space plasma phenomena. His second calling is sports photography. Since 1978, Amatucci has photographed professional and college football for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins and the West Virginia University Mountaineers.

Amatucci resides in Fairfax, Va., with his wife and three children.

Dade Chisler, a first-generation college graduate originally from Pentree, W.Va., received his bachelor’s degree in forensic and investigative science, with an emphasis in crime scene investigation and latent print examination, in 2008. He currently works for the Virginia Beach Police Department in on the Forensic Service Unit. His duties consist of responding to crime scenes for the purpose of documenting, collecting, preserving and analyzing evidence associated with criminal acts. His knowledge of particular areas of forensic science allows him to institute the restoration of serial numbers on various items of evidence including firearms, vehicles and electronic devices.

Chisler and his wife are involved in community service. Chisler has given guest lectures at WVU and local colleges and universities in the Hampton Roads area to students interested in forensic science and criminal justice fields.

Paul “Mitch” Harris, a senior research consultant and Chevron Fellow with Chevron Energy Technology Company in San Ramon, Calif., performs carbonate research, technical service projects, consulting and training for the various operating units of Chevron. Originally from Weirton, W.Va., Harris received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from WVU in 1971 and 1973 respectively. He received his doctorate from the University of Miami in 1977. His career’s work has centered on problems that pertain to carbonate reservoirs and exploration plays in most carbonate basins worldwide.

Robert Musick, a Morgantown native, received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from WVU in the 1974 and 1976. He is a licensed certified social worker and currently the chief executive officer of the West Virginia Council for the Prevention of Suicide. The program provides education and training to families, mental health and substance abuse professionals, police officers, school personnel and faith-based groups.

Musick spent four years with the United States Air Force on duty in Germany and England before becoming part of the Mountaineer family. He has coached football in the Morgantown area for the past 36 years, served as the mayor of Star City, W.Va., and currently serves on the city council for Star City.

Vicci Tucci, from Weston, W.Va., obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from WVU and a master’s degree in psychology with a special emphasis in applied behavior analysis from the University of the Pacific in California. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Tucci is the president and CEO of Tucci Learning Solutions, Inc., in Watsonville, Calif. She is responsible for research, development and implementation of the products and services related to the Competent Learner Model. In her spare time, she tends to her garden of trees and rose bushes.

For more information about the award ceremony, contact Brenda Riggle, at 304-293-9205 or Brenda.Riggle@mail.wvu.edu

WVU Career Services sponsers trip to WestPACS Job and Internship Fair

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:13:00 EST

West Virginia University Career Services Center will sponsor a bus trip to the WestPACS Job and Internship Fair where students can network with over 100 employers from diverse industries, non-profits, and government agencies. View a complete list of employers.

The event is October 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Monroeville, Pa. The $30 fee will cover transportation to and from the event as well as the standard career fair registration fee. Buses will depart from the Mountainlair on October 17 at 8:15 a.m. Buses will depart from Monroeville at 3:15 p.m. for the return trip to Morgantown.

Registration is required for the event. The registration deadline is October 12.

Interested students should complete the two-part registration process.

Log in to MountaineerTRAK
Make sure you have a resume uploaded in the ‘My Documents’ section
Go to Career Fairs and Events and click on WestPACS Job & Internship Fair
Click Register for Event
Select the Attendance Fee and under Payment Method, click Credit Card
Submit credit card payment
Your resume uploaded in ‘My Documents’ will automatically link to your registration and a career counselor will review it and email suggested revisions back to you
In addition to your MountaineerTRAK registration, you must also register with the fair at http://www.westpacs.org/register.aspx.

For more information, contact Sarah Glenn at sarah.glenn@mail.wvu.edu or via phone at 304-293-8214.

WVU Center and local charity to screen documentary on empowering girls and women

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:44:00 EST

The West Virginia University Center for Women’s and Gender Studies has partnered with Monongalia County Girls on the Run (GOTR) to shed some light on an important issue impacting girls and women globally.

The organizations have partnered to offer a screening of the film “Miss Representation,” on Tuesday, October 2, at 7 p.m. in the Gluck Theater in the Mountainlair.

The documentary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011, was aired by the Oprah Winfrey Network. The film explores how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. The film delivers a powerful message about the media’s role in convincing women that their value and power is linked only to their youth, beauty and sexuality, rather than their capacity to lead.

“It is important for women to understand where the ideals regarding body image and self-worth are coming from, and to start forming their own opinions,” Allyson Perry, graduate teaching assistant for the Women’s and Gender Studies Program said.

Laurie Abildso, council director of the Monongalia County chapter of GOTR, is excited to partner with WVU and hopes this film will be a springboard for new thinking and community-wide conversation.

Girls on the Run is a national organization that combines training for a 5K running event with healthy living education. Programs instill self-esteem and strong values through health education, life skills development, mentoring relationships, and physical training—all of which are accomplished through an active collaboration with girls and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff and the community.

The Center for Women’s & Gender Studies supports teaching, research and advocacy that is based on feminist perspectives and centered on analyses of gender and its intersection with race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, age and ability.

The event is free and open to the public. Donations to the Center or GOTR are welcome. For more information, contact the Center at wmst@mail.wvu.edu.

Call for papers for the Women of Appalachia Conference: Sisters in Science

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:14:00 EST

The Women of Appalachia Conference: Sisters in Science is seeking conference participants. The event is October 18 through 20, 2012, on the campus of Ohio University, Zanesville, Ohio. Deadline for proposals is August 31.

The keynote speaker for the conference will be Michelle Withers, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology at West Virginia University. Withers’ research focuses on improving undergraduate science education, particularly evaluating the efficacy of different teaching methods in enhancing student learning. She advises faculty to relinquish the role of the “sage on the stage,” disseminating knowledge and become a “guide on the side,” creating learning experiences that require students to construct their own understanding and practice critical thinking skills.

Additionally, Diandra Leslie-Pelecky, Ph.D., professor of physics at the West Virginia University, will give a public lecture entitled “The Physics of NASCAR,” at Ohio University Zanesville’s Third Thursday event on October 18.

Concurrent session presentations can take the form of paper presentations and roundtable discussions. Suggested topics might include, but are not limited to, the following: Women Conservationists, Naturalists and other Environmentally-Focused Women; Appalachian Women in Medicine: Homeopathy vs. Science and Everything in Between; The Science of Appalachian Resource Management: Coal Miners’ Daughters; Embodiments/Representations of Science in Appalachian Literature and Art; “Getting above Her Raisin’”: Female Achievement in the Appalachian Science Classroom; History/Biography of Appalachian Women Scientists; or Innovation in Regional Science Education: How to Bring Modern STEM Pedagogy to the Appalachian Classroom.

Presentations should run 20 minutes in length. Participants will be asked to provide audiovisual needs upon acceptance of a proposal. Please submit a 250- to 300-word abstract to Matt Wanat, Sandy Doty or Chris Shaw by August 31, 2012. The proposal of complete panels is encouraged.

For questions or more information email Matt Wanat, Sandy Doty or Chris Shaw or call (740) 588-1565.

WVU call for participants in the International Research Symposium for faculty and graduate students

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:02:00 EST

West Virginia University is holding its second annual International Research Symposium for faculty and graduate students. The symposium will be co-hosted by the Environmental Research Center of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Design, the WVU Peace Corps Masters International (PCMI) Program in Sustainable Forestry and Natural Resources, the WVU Office of International Programs and the WVU Office of Graduate Education and Life.

International Research Symposium
October 12, 2012
101 NRCCE
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The objective of this symposium is to highlight the diversity of international research projects being undertaken by faculty and graduate students at WVU.

WE invite all members of the WVU community engaged in international research to present and discuss their latest projects, and hope that you will contribute your expertise and insight to scale-up WVU’s critical mass in international research and service.

The symposium will be held from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. on Friday, October 12, 2012. It will be held in Room 101 of the NRCCE Building on WVU’s Evansdale Campus. Presentations will represent a diverse range of topics from environmental, engineering, health, and social sciences.

Along with research presentations from faculty and graduate students, we will take a short moment to welcome our second cohort of PCMI students to WVU and celebrate the mission of the Peace Corps.

Information on last year’s symposium along with an agenda can be found at:
http://peacecorps.davis.wvu.edu/home/symposium

Interested students and faculty should contact Todd Petty at jtpetty@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-2278 for more information.

Help WVU win the ESPN College Colors Day Spirit Cup

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:29:00 EST

In a month, the blue lot will be filled and WVU fans and friends will be waiting for the kickoff of the 2012 football season.

As you anxiously await the start of the Mountaineers’ season on Sept. 1, ESPN is allowing you to represent the Mountaineers and pledge your allegiance to WVU as part of the College Colors Day Spirit Cup. WVU will compete with 165 colleges and universities from across the country to be crowned the winner of the online voting contest. In addition, the school with the most votes on Aug. 31 will receive $10,000 toward its general scholarship fund.

By visiting www.espn.com/collegecolorsday, Mountaineer fans can register to pledge their allegiance to WVU as the school with the most college spirit and loyal fan base.

All registrants are entered to win weekly $50 gift cards from ESPN Shop and one of two grand prizes including a $500 college shopping spree at ESPN Shop.

WVU accepting nominations for honorary doctoral degrees

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:54:00 EST

The Office of the Provost at West Virginia University is now accepting nominations for candidates to be awarded honorary doctoral degrees at the 2013 commencement exercises.

The honorary degree is the highest honor WVU bestows. Nominees are evaluated on the basis of one or more of the following criteria:

Having attained national/international pre-eminence in their field.
Having provided distinguished and pre-eminent leadership in society.
Having a sustained record of extraordinary philanthropy to West Virginia University, and/or having supported the University substantially in various ways.

More information about the nomination process, as well as nomination forms and guidelines to any member of the WVU community – faculty, staff, student, alumnus – who wishes to prepare a nomination can be found at http://honorarydegrees.wvu.edu.

The university has awarded honorary degrees annually since 1873. The degree recipients in 2012 were Gregory Babe, Ming Hsieh, Stuart Robbins and G. Ogden Nutting. Biographies of each can be found at the honorary degree website.

The provost’s office encourages all in the campus community to take part in this process of recognizing extraordinary individuals. Nominations of exceptional women and minorities are especially encouraged. Nominations must be received by Monday, Oct. 1, 2012 to be considered for conferral at the May 2013 commencement.

WVU Office of Graduate Education realigned to optimize WVU's Research emphasis

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:01:00 EST

The Office of Graduate Education and Life at West Virginia University, which is responsible for graduate education academic program planning and performance review, will report administratively to the Office of the Provost through the Office of the Vice President for Research in keeping with the institution’s goal of strengthening its research programs.

The change, which takes effect Sept. 1, comes following an announcement by Jonathan Cumming, that he did not elect to seek reappointment as associate provost for graduate academic affairs. Dr. Cumming has led the office since it was created in 2007.

“The last five years was a great opportunity for me to develop programs to help our graduate students prepare for their futures,” Cumming said. “As the university moves forward, this foundation will provide the support to attain WVU’s 2020 goals. During this period, I had continued my academic scholarship, although at a lower level, and truly missed training grad students and teaching undergraduates about the wonders of environmental science.

“That was my calling and I’m looking forward to rejoining my faculty colleagues in this pursuit,” said Cumming, a professor of biology.

Provost Michele Wheatly praised Cumming’s shepherding the office’s creation and its first five years.

“Under Dr. Cumming’s leadership, the office has enjoyed an array of accomplishments including the development of the Graduate Academy, establishment as an office dedicated to graduate student support and advocacy, working with Institutional Research to develop metrics for the assessment of graduate programs and implementation of an online application process for graduate students,” she said.

“Dr. Cumming’s decision has enabled WVU’s administration and faculty leadership teams to reconsider the best administrative ‘home’ for Grad Ed and Life,” she said.

“WVU aspires to attain national research prominence and Goal 2 of Strategic Plan 2020 calls for ‘improved and expanded graduate education with strengthened connection to the University’s research enterprise’,” she said.

Wheatly noted that most of WVU’s aspirational peer land-grant institutions (Carnegie Classification Very High Research Activity) have graduate education administratively linked to research.

“The role of graduate education has always been two-fold: advancing the frontiers of human knowledge and preparing individuals to utilize that knowledge for the benefit of society,” said Fred King, WVU’s interim vice president for research. “The change planned at WVU is formalization of the close relationship between scholarly discovery and the education of students who engage in such discovery. Aligning these endeavors more closely will enhance the synergy between these areas to advance discovery and engagement at WVU. It will also facilitate further advances in interdisciplinary efforts to address important problems facing our world.”

Dr. Katherine Karraker, a psychology professor and associate dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, has been named the interim associate provost for graduate academic affairs. In this capacity and through her leadership of the Office of Graduate Education and Life, she will report through Dr. King to the provost.

“I am excited about this opportunity to contribute to WVU’s mission to provide excellent graduate education and am looking forward to working with Provost Wheatly and Dr. King in the coming months,” Karraker said. “I hope to continue the good work done by Dr. Cumming in enhancing and supporting graduate education.”

-WVU-

jb/06/26/12

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Eberly College hosts Business After Hours event

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:37:00 EST

Looking to mingle with area professionals and check out the newly renovated White Hall at West Virginia University? Then join the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences this evening (June 20) as it hosts a Business After Hours reception.

There will be light refreshments at the gathering, which begins at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m., and a business card drawing for a free Woodburn Hall throw blanket.

Business After Hours, a monthly networking series sponsored by the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce.

Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Time: 5:30-7p.m.

Location: White Hall, 135 Willey Street

For more information please contact Bonnie McBee Fisher, director of development, 304-293-4611 or bonnie.fisher@mail.wvu.edu.

No backyard brawling at this fair!

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:08:00 EST

The world is coming to West Virginia University backyard, otherwise known as Pittsburgh, so the University is pulling out all stops to attract the high school brains headed to the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair next week (May 13-18).

Topping the list will be sophomore political science major Katherine Bomkamp, who as a student at North Point High School for Science Technology and Industry in Waldorf, Md., attended the fair in 2009 and 2010 with her invention, “The Pain Free Socket.”

“I’m very excited to be there and to be part of WVU’s presence,” said Bomkamp, one of six students who will be on hand as volunteers. “The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair changed my life. It gave me the confidence to move forward with this project. It’s like my past academic career meeting with my future.”

About 15 WVU faculty and administrators will also serve as judges for a competition that involves 1,500 high school students from 65 countries.

While making its first appearance at an Intel Fair, WVU will scout for future Bomkamps among the promising young inventors.

Its calling card will be a new display that includes hands-on demonstrations and features designed to grab students’ attention.

The display includes the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences’ blood spatter intrigue, in which students will examine paper stained with fake blood to simulate a forensic investigation; a cut-away model of a Toyota Prius, which reveals the inner workings of an alternative fuel vehicle like those found at WVU’s National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium ; an iris scanner, in which students can have their eye scanned – part of biometrics data collection that’s a included in the curriculum at WVU’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources – and receive an enlarged print-out; and more.

The display was a hit at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., in April.

Having Bomkamp on hand also helps in WVU’s recruitment efforts, according to Jay Cole, WVU’s chief of staff and one of the judges at the event.

“Katherine is a great example for students from this competition to see that they can go on and do great things in college,” Cole said, “She’s incredibly passionate about the Intel Fair and about WVU, and maybe she can show some of the competitors that WVU is the right place for them.”

And through Bomkamp, Cole hopes to encourage schools in West Virginia to increase their participation in local, regional and state science competitions.

But the goal includes more than recruiting high-quality students, according to Cole. It involves a larger strategy aimed at increasing WVU’s presence in the Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania regions and also initiatives tied to the school’s Strategic Plan 2020, including increasing diversity and under-represented groups among faculty and students. Also, through events like the Intel Fair, WVU can solidify and expand existing partnerships between other institutions, private sector businesses, foundations and organizations.

“It’s one piece of a larger, regional and national strategy,” Cole said.

WVU already belongs to The Power of 32, a 32-county regional economic development initiative in southwestern Pennsylvania that includes Pittsburgh, north central West Virginia, eastern Ohio and western Maryland. WVU President Jim Clements chairs the group’s implementation committee.

Also, Cole is a member of the Pittsburgh Today Advisory Committee. But, he said, participating in events like Intel Fair will increase WVU’s regional exposure and opportunities for the school, possibly building on research partnerships between WVU and the University of Pittsburgh or Carnegie Mellon, or establishing additional partnerships with philanthropic organization like the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

The fair rotates between several cities and will return to Pittsburgh in 2015 and 2018. Cole said WVU will build on its initial appearance.

“In terms of policy makers and opinion leaders and certainly folks in and around Pittsburgh – they are aware of us. But I think we can do more to raise our profile among those folks,” Cole said.

Bomkamp developed her invention aimed to alleviate phantom pain in the world’s millions of amputees after observing patients in a military hospital.

Since coming WVU as a young inventor, in two short years has become one of the nation’s most celebrated students.

Feedback from fair judges pushed her to improve her invention and WVU, she says, has helped her take it to new heights. Through WVU’s Center for Entrepreneurship, a component of the WVU College of Business and Economics, Bomkamp learned to think of her invention as a product and immersed herself in the commercialization process. She was awarded a grant to hire engineers to develop a prototype of the device.

Along the way, she was named one of Glamour magazine’s 21 Amazing Young Women and her innovation has received worldwide media coverage that includes CNN, the BBC, The New York Times and others.

She also became the youngest person ever invited to present to Britain’s Royal Society of Medicine’s Medical Innovations Summit and was recently named one of 162 college students from 32 states to be named a Newman Civic Fellow. The fellowships recognize student leaders who have worked toward finding solutions for challenges facing communities and are awarded by Campus Compact, a national collation of 1,200 college and university presidents committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education.

“WVU has supported me and opened my eyes to new possibilities,” she said.

For more information about the fair, see: http://www.societyforscience.org/intelisef2012.

FBI hosting recruiting info sessions for linguists at WVU

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:25:00 EST

Do you speak a second language? Are you interested in a career with the FBI? Join recruiters from the FBI at one of their info sessions and learn what it takes to be an linguist and language analyst.

There are two sessions open on April 18 in the Shenandoah Room in the Mountainlair. Participants may attend the first session at 9:30 a.m. or the second session at 1:30 p.m (you only need to attend one session).

As a vital partner in today’s Intelligence Community, the FBI continues to implement its mission to safeguard America and its people. This expanding role continues to create many new opportunities for language professionals in a growing number of languages and dialects. Combining your proficiency in a foreign language with the science of investigative work, you will help protect your country against cyber crime, terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, corruption, kidnapping, civil rights violations and other crimes under FBI jurisdiction.

Opportunities exist for full-time employees and self-employed contractors.

For more information visit www.FBIjobs.gov/linguists

For more information about the open sessions, contact Sarah Rotruck Glenn, assistant director of Employer Relations in the WVU Career Services Center at 304-293-8214 or via e-mail at Sarah.Glenn@mail.wvu.edu.