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The West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences has announced a new online Master of Arts in Leadership Studies in Education designed to prepare educators for school and district leadership roles in K-12 schools.

 The program includes a 30-credit curriculum that offers multiple certification pathways, which can be earned along the way to degree completion or pursued independently. Students can earn a Principal Certificate (18 credits) and a Superintendent Endorsement (6 credits), with the option to complete both while progressing toward the full master’s degree. A separate General Supervisor of Instruction Certificate is also available.

The WVU Nursery School is now enrolling for the 2025-2026 school year. Programs are available for both the Preschool (3-year-old) and Monongalia County Collaborative Pre-K programs.

For more information or to begin the enrollment process, contact Allison Stump at (304) 293-2110 or via email at alstump@mail.wvu.edu.

Canyon Lohnas, a Ph.D. student at West Virginia University, has been named to the International Literacy Association’s 2025 30 Under 30 list, which highlights emerging leaders who are transforming literacy education and promoting equity in classrooms, communities and beyond.

This global cohort features changemakers from 12 countries, all under the age of 30, who are driving innovations and advocating for accessible, inclusive learning experiences. Lohnas, 28, was honored for his work in health literacy.

Dr. Arreta Jaranko was not one to loudly challenge convention, but her life spoke volumes. Born in 1922 in Clarksburg, W.Va., during the Great Depression, she faced formidable challenges. Yet, she quietly but firmly pursued a path of learning, innovation, and service that defied the limitations of her time.

As a teenager, she dreamed of becoming a doctor, inspired by her grandfather, a horse-and-buggy physician. But when she shared her ambitions with her father, he dismissed her aspirations outright. “Girls don’t need an education,” he told her. “They get married and have babies.”

West Virginia University's literacy education master’s degree program has once again earned “National Recognition” status from the International Literacy Association. This achievement demonstrates the program’s alignment with ILA’s rigorous standards for preparing literacy professionals to excel as K-12 classrooms as reading specialists, literacy coaches, and classroom leaders.

This recognition is the first step in a two-phase process. WVU is now preparing to pursue “ILA National Recognition With Distinction,” the highest honor for literacy education programs. WVU earned this recognition in the inaugural year of the award in 2019 and maintained it through 2024.

Phillip Elias Howard’s life has been defined by an insatiable desire to learn and a steadfast commitment to justice. Raised in Uniontown, Pa., a town shaped by coal mining, coke production, and union struggles, Howard grew up with a deep awareness of the systemic forces that shape communities. These influences, coupled with the dedication of his parents—both educators in their own ways—instilled in him a profound respect for education and the power it holds to transform lives.

Uniontown, like many industrial towns in Pennsylvania, bore the scars of deindustrialization. The town and its surrounding “patch” company towns were integral to supplying the Mon Valley and Pittsburgh-area steel mills with the coal and coke essential for steel production. Uniontown’s sole steel mill closed in the 1880s, but coal and coke industries remained dominant for decades, shaping the local economy and culture. The decline brought high rates of unemployment, government assistance, and rising crime.

Brooklyn Slade’s passion for dance brought her from Milton, Ontario, to West Virginia University, where she found the perfect balance between performing and pursuing her academic goals. As she prepares to graduate next May with a degree in elementary education, Brooklyn reflects on her time in WVU’s close-knit education program, where the support from classmates and professors has helped her thrive both in the classroom and on the dance team. Despite being from Canada, Brooklyn holds a deep pride in being a Mountaineer, a feeling she’ll carry with her long after graduation.

The  West Virginia University  Alumni Association will celebrate recipients of the 2024  Homecoming and Alumni Service Awards during  Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 18-20, recognizing the accomplishments of alumni around the world and honoring their service, commitment and loyalty to their alma mater.

College of Applied Human Sciences alumnae Tracy Schoenadel (‘87, ‘89, ‘92) and Laura Boyd (‘89, ‘91) will be honored with the distinctive title of Outstanding Alumni. 

Stephanie Martin, a West Virginia University alumna and seasoned development professional, has been named the Director of Development for the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences. In addition to her knowledge and experience in fundraising, alumni relations, and donor stewardship, Martin brings familiarity and passion to the mission of CAHS.

Martin began her career at WVU in 2013 as a Mountaineer Temp in the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. She took on increasing responsibilities over the next five years and became the Dean’s Office Administrator in 2018, where she played a key role in annual giving, fundraising, and coordinating major events like the Hall of Fame and Visiting Committee meetings. Additionally, she earned her Regents Bachelor of Arts degree in May 2020, with minors in Women’s and Gender Studies and Infant and Toddler Studies.

Lily Campbell, Emma Cremann and Jada Sanders were recently selected to join the fifth cohort of Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars and will begin their studies this fall on the Morgantown Campus.