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Project TRAIN lays a new track to support children affected by addiction at home

Frankie Tack talks in front of teachers as part of the train the trainer program

One of every four children in the United States has a parent wrestling with drug or alcohol addiction, based on national data, and is at risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life.

To begin to break that cycle and give adults in those kids’ lives the tools to make a difference,  West Virginia University’s  Project TRAIN has expanded its program, originally focused on helping K-12 teachers support students affected by addiction, to youth camps statewide.

WVU research shows healthy communication after divorce should be all about the kids

Art with a child in the middle with silhouettes of parents on either side.

When it comes to keeping the lines of communication open after a divorce, West Virginia University researchers Jonathon Beckmeyer and Jessica Troilo say you can have far too much of a good thing.

Their study of 708 divorced parents of children under 18 shows that even innocuous chitchat between divorced co-parents can put children’s well-being at risk. Simply put, “limit any communication to shared parenting issues,” the researchers suggest.

Registration open for WVU Diversity Cup coed soccer tournament

Players on the recreation turf field, kicking a soccer ball with player running toward the ball.

The College of Applied Human Sciences, in partnership with the West Virginia University Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will celebrate the spirit of sport, friendship and inclusiveness by hosting the 6th Annual Diversity Cup Four vs. Four Coed Soccer Tournament. For more information, to register and view tournament rules visit the College of Applied Human Sciences Diversity Cup webpage.

The tournament, commemorating Diversity Week 2022, is scheduled on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 on the turf fields located between the College of Applied Human Sciences building and the Student Recreation Center on the Evansdale Campus.

WVU Youth Sports Day combines best practices and Big 12 football experience

Poster showing football player smiling at fans. Promoting Youth Sport Day, Sept. 10.

The Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Sciences at WVU is collaborating with Mountaineer Athletics to host the third annual Youth Sports Day, Saturday, Sept. 10, prior to the Kansas Jayhawks vs. WVU football game. This year’s Youth Sports Day is sponsored by U.S Cellular.

Youth Sports Day serves as an opportunity to provide the community with information about quality youth sport programs, the importance of sport sampling for developing the athletic skills and fitness youth need to participate in sports programs, says Kristen Dieffenbach, professor, coaching and performance science, College of Applied Human Sciences.

College of Applied Human Sciences kicks off first year with celebration

Blue and gold Celebration graphic, with Sept. 15, 3-5 p.m. at Evansdale recreation fields information

The West Virginia University campus is invited to celebrate the inaugural academic year of the College of Applied Human Sciences on Thursday, September 15, 3-5 p.m. at the Evansdale recreation fields. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

The fair will feature free snacks, drinks, games, prizes, music, special guests and more to help commemorate the college’s first semester.

WVU education experts say creative solutions needed for keeping, recruiting teachers

Female teacher wearing grey top and black pants reading a book to three young students, seated at her side.

With a new school year underway, three West Virginia University education experts discuss the ongoing challenges of staffing schools, which the president of the National Education Association labeled a “five-alarm crisis.”

Donna Peduto, executive director of West Virginia Public Education Collaborative , has held positions with the West Virginia Board of Education and the state Department of Education, and was the state coordinator for West Virginia's first Innovation Zones Initiative.

WVU School of Education expands reach of Mountaineer Mathematics Master Teachers program with launch of third cohort

Matthew Campbell wearing dark suit jacket, light dress shirt and plaid tie, smiling.

The West Virginia University School of Education and Mountaineer Mathematics Master Teachers project have selected 12 middle and high school math teachers from across West Virginia to serve as the third cohort of M3T fellows. The group will join the project’s statewide mathematics teacher leadership program for the next five years.

Moving into its third year, the M3T project works to support and retain skilled and experienced secondary math teachers by empowering these teachers as leaders in their school districts and across the state. The program also aims to create a model of networked and teacher-led improvement and teacher leadership development statewide and share that emerging strategy across the country.

Sports Business Journal available at no cost to WVU community

Graphic with dark blue background has gold WV Flying logo and white Sports Business Journal logo side by side.

Through a partnership with West Virginia University Libraries, all WVU students, faculty and staff will have free digital access to the Sports Business Journal for the 2022-23 academic year. The complimentary access to the nation’s leading publication in sports business is valued at more than $800 for industry professionals.

Those interested can access the journal here. A WVU login and password are required to view the publication.

WVU School of Sport Sciences receives national recognition

Guy Hornsby is wearing a white and navy shirt, arms held high. Female student in gray shirt, holding arms high holding a bar bell.

The School of Sport Sciences in the College of Applied Human Sciences at West Virginia University was identified by Newsweek.com as one of the leading sport sciences programs in the U.S.

"It is extremely exciting for our school to be recognized as one of the foremost programs in the country. It is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the faculty," Valerie Wayda, associate professor, associate dean for academic affairs, undergraduate education and school of sport sciences director, said.

Schimmel to serve as faculty ombudsperson

Headshot Chris Schimmel

Christine Schimmel, associate professor of counseling, has been appointed as the new WVU faculty ombudsperson for the 2022-23 academic year.

Selected through an internal, University-wide search process by a committee with representatives from the WVU Faculty Senate and the Provost’s Office, Schimmel will provide confidential and informal assistance to all faculty members across the University community.

Dean Cyprès named to WVPEC Board

Autumn Tooms Cyprès

One of the primary calls to action for Autumn Tooms Cyprès, founding dean for the College of Applied Human Sciences at West Virginia University, is to continue to foster the relationships between public schools and the University. Cyprès took immediate action in this regard by recently accepting a position on the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative Board.

The WVPEC Board is a collection of leaders from across the state and nation that have a commitment to all levels of public education. The organization works with government officials, as well as education and business leaders, to tackle public education challenges while striving to build a more seamless pipeline from K-12 and higher education to in-demand jobs. The WVPEC engages in a number of activities aimed at providing tools and resources necessary to help West Virginia students and teachers.

CAHS Academic Day welcomes incoming freshmen to campus

A group of freshman students stand outside the college building looking at their cell phones.

CAHS is hosting 2022 Academic Day, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the WVU Museum Education Center, to welcome incoming freshmen to the family, allowing them to connect with peers, faculty and staff. CAHS inaugural Dean Autumn Cyprès will provide insight about the first-year experience. The new students will join in a scavenger hunt to explore the Evansdale campus and become familiar with their new home. Additionally, the gathering will include program specific academic sessions. For more information, contact CAHSInfo@mail.wvu.edu.

CAHS adds faculty in sport management and health and well-being

Headshots of Rachel Wattick and Joni Williamson

Two new faculty members will join the College of Applied Human Sciences for fall 2022. Joni Williamson, sport management teaching assistant professor, and Rachel Wattick, health and well-being teaching assistant professor, bring experience in athletics administration and food science, respectively.

Williamson comes to WVU after spending the last four years as the director of athletics and adventure sports at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C. She has held additional roles at the NCAA in academic and membership affairs, Wittenberg University as associate director of athletics, Wright State as director of athletics promotions and Washington State as facilities operations assistant.

National partnership uses integrative health approach to help people stop smoking

Peter Giacobbi is wearing a white dress shirt, dark tie and glasses, standing in front of work out equipment.

Contributing to more than 480,000 deaths annually in the United States, smoking remains a problem nationwide, especially in the state of West Virginia. A West Virginia University professor is part of a team that is leading an effort to help adults quit smoking.

Peter Giacobbi, professor in the College of Applied Human Sciences and a member of the School of Public Health, is collaborating with research colleagues from the University of Arizona, the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, N.Y. and WV First Choice Services to launch the Be Smoke Free project.