Two honorees from Eberly College, James Seth Davidson and Chloe Hatfield, will receive up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate education aimed at addressing the needs of communities across the Mountain State.
The 2026 recipients of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Graduate Scholarship, administered by WVU, include James Seth Davidson, Chloe Hatfield, Miranda Hummer, and Willie Taylor. (WVU Foundation Graphic)
James Seth Davidson
Years of service in Lincoln County inspired James Seth Davidson to find new ways to help rural communities strengthen essential infrastructure.
A graduate of West Virginia State University and Marshall University, Davidson will pursue a doctoral degree in geography at WVU with a focus on geographic information systems. His research centers on developing a low-cost, user-friendly mapping application that would help rural public service districts better manage water systems, improve service reliability, and make informed decisions about maintenance and long-term investments.
“My commitment to public service and community leadership has shaped both my academic path and my long-term professional goals,” Davidson said. “As a lifelong West Virginian, I have seen firsthand how essential infrastructure, especially reliable drinking water, is to the health, resilience, and economic stability of our rural communities.”
His commitment to service extends beyond his academic work. Davidson serves on the board of the Alum Creek Alliance for Community Development, helping organize food drives, blood drives, and scholarship initiatives.
He also serves as a commissioner for the Lincoln Public Service District, which provides water service to approximately 2,400 customers. Davidson and his wife, Leighann Davidson, established an endowed scholarship at West Virginia State University to support future West Virginia students.
Chloe Hatfield
Growing up in the coalfields of southern West Virginia exposed Chloe Hatfield to the barriers many rural residents face when seeking healthcare and inspired her commitment to improving health outcomes in Appalachian communities.
That commitment led her to serve with AmeriCorps VISTA in McDowell County, where she worked on initiatives focused on food insecurity, youth engagement, and chronic disease prevention. She later contributed to community-based programs through WVU and supported research examining barriers to care in Appalachia.
As a first-generation college student, she helped establish the University’s FirstGen Mountaineers club and has mentored students through teaching and success coaching roles.
Hatfield earned degrees in psychology and public health from WVU and will pursue doctoral study in public health at the University of Cincinnati. Her research interests include chronic disease prevention, health equity, and community-centered approaches to addressing medical mistrust and other challenges facing rural populations.
“Although my studies will take me out of state, my long-term goals remain firmly rooted at home,” Hatfield said. “I intend to return to West Virginia to lead community-engaged research, develop evidence-based health promotion programs, and contribute to statewide efforts that advance health equity.”
This article is republished from WVU Today — read the original article.
