Eberly News

Nearly 70 years ago,  West Virginia University welcomed Ruey Yuan Lin and prepared him for a successful career as a research scientist. His son is now showing his gratitude with a generous gift to aid education, outreach and life-changing experiences for future students in his father’s honor.

The bunny trail might just start at the cross, according to a West Virginia University religious studies expert.

While many assume egg hunts and the Easter Bunny have pagan origins, Aaron Gale, associate professor in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, explains how modern scholars came to believe that Easter’s secular symbols may have come from Christianity.

In recognition of her dedication to and exceptional teaching of writing, Catherine Gouge, a professor in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Department of English, is the 2025-26 recipient of the Caperton Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Writing.

Each spring, WVU recognizes selected faculty members for their exceptional and innovative teaching.  This year, WVU Foundation Awards for Outstanding Teaching honor two faculty members in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences: Erin Brock Carlson, associate professor in the Department of English and Cody Hood, teaching assistant professor in the School of Mathematical and Data Sciences. 

Driven by a love for his home state and gratitude for the opportunities West Virginia University has provided him, Reese Allen will don the buckskins and coonskin cap as the next Mountaineer mascot.

The senior dual mechanical engineering and data science major from Bridgeport was named the 2026-27 Mountaineer mascot Saturday (Feb. 28) during the men’s basketball game in the Hope Coliseum.

Finalist Amelia Bolden, a communication sciences and disorders junior in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as the alternate Mountaineer mascot.

The WVU Impact Awards recognize employees who exemplify Mountaineer Values and make meaningful contributions to the University’s mission. These awards celebrate individuals whose work strengthens the campus community, supports student success and creates a lasting impact across disciplines. 

Isabella Linton, a senior in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, is a Mountaineer from way back. Her family has deep roots in West Virginia, and she grew up in the house her grandparents built. Linton has turned a lifelong curiosity about the brain into meaningful, hands-on research. Through lab work and faculty mentorship, she has explored how maternal stress impacts development while building a strong foundation in scientific inquiry.

First-generation faculty from West Virginia University’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and FirstGen Initiatives, housed within REACH Student Success, are playing a central role in expanding mentorship and support systems for first-generation students, contributing their expertise to a statewide initiative funded by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

For a second consecutive year, the West Virginia University student body will be led by Collin Street, triple majoring in political science, environmental and energy resources management and multidisciplinary studies, and Rozaireo Jones, majoring in journalism with minors in history and political science.