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Mangione builds momentum towards a career in mental health and addiction studies

Marissa Mangione headshot.

On a whim, Marissa Mangione gave West Virginia University a chance. She got a flyer in the mail at her home Richboro, Pa., (just outside of Philadelphia), and wanted to visit campus. Despite roots in Pennsylvania and ties to Penn State, she came to Morgantown and realized almost immediately that she wanted to be a Mountaineer.  

"I was either going to go to West Virginia or Penn State,” she admits. “WVU checked all the boxes for me: I wanted a big school, a big community, and a lot of opportunities. And I also loved the spirit for the football team."

CAHS set for fall celebration

Promotional graphic for the student celebration with details about the vent.

The West Virginia University campus is invited to celebrate the start of the academic year with the College of Applied Human Sciences on Thursday, September 7, 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, and more. Students will be able to meet college faculty and staff, including a meet and greet with Dean Autumn Cyprès, and learn more about various clubs and organizations on campus. 

Center for ActiveWV receives funding to improve nutrition and physical activity

Young child in a green t-shirt sifting through freshly picked blueberries.

The Center for ActiveWV in the West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences is pleased to announce the receipt of a $768,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's High Obesity Program. The grant, awarded under a five-year cooperative agreement, will support the growth of CAHS's existing HOP grant and the implementation of the Be Wild, Be Wonderful, Be Healthy: Expanded program.

The Be Wild, Be Wonderful, Be Healthy: Expanded program aims to enhance the capacity and partnerships of CAHS in developing and implementing targeted approaches to improve access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities for residents in eight counties across three distinct geographical regions of West Virginia. These counties include Clay, Braxton, Calhoun, Logan, Boone, Lincoln, Summers, and Monroe.

Passion and energy leads recent alum to start non-profit for youth in Summers County

Malik Wynes, Smoky Bear, and Michaela Wynes pose for a photo in front of a Wynes Facility for Families and Children sign.

In the heart of Talcott, a small town nestled in the scenic landscapes of West Virginia, Michaela Wynes, with the help of her cousin Malik, has embarked on a remarkable journey to uplift her community with the founding of the Wynes Facility for Families and Children. The non-profit organization is dedicated to improving the lives of young individuals in their hometown.

While 2020 was the year when most people struggled due to the COVID pandemic, it was the following year that Michaela had her own personal struggles. She conceded that things had piled up on her and her mental health struggled along with her ability to be herself. At one of the moments that she felt at her lowest, her mom came in and she realized how grateful she was that she had her family.

CAHS recognizes outstanding faculty

Dr. Sean Bulger stands at a podium in the Blue Gold Room in towers presenting to a group of faculty and staff.

The College of Applied Human Sciences recognized four faculty members – Rawn Boulden, Patrick Hairston, Erin Jordan and Erin McHenry-Sorber – for outstanding work in the 2022-23 academic year at its all-college assembly on May 10.

Rawn Boulden was the recipient of the 2023 CAHS Outstanding Researcher Award. The award acknowledges a faculty member whose research has made significant contributions to one’s discipline in the past year. In the past year, Boulden’s work investigated issues of school counseling in rural areas, with special emphasis on Appalachia and culturally sustaining school counseling practices. His research portfolio included six peer-reviewed journal articles published or appearing in the press during the award period.

Programs earn top rankings from US News and World Report

Fall photo from the WVU Evansdale campus with a tree with gold foliage in the foreground and a water tower with the WVU logo in the background.

The College of Applied Human Sciences at West Virginia University is proud to announce that two of its graduate programs have been recognized in the 2023-24 edition of the U.S. News and World Report's Best Graduate Schools rankings.

The clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling program in the School of Counseling and Well-Being has been ranked as the 19th-best rehabilitation counseling graduate program in the country, placing it in the top quartile of programs nationwide. This ranking was determined through peer assessments.

Commencement 2023

Decorated graduation caps worn by students at commencement

The College of Applied Human Sciences will cap its inaugural academic year at Commencement on Saturday, May 13, at 9 a.m. at the WVU Coliseum. Here is a look at several graduates from the College who will be earning their degree this weekend.

WVU addresses youth mental health crisis and critical provider shortage with innovative in-school programming

A classroom that has several rows of tables has several people sitting as a group.

Mental health experts based at the  West Virginia University  College of Applied Human Sciences will soon be going into public schools in parts of the Mountain State to work to address critical and growing mental health needs among children.

Rawn Boulden, assistant professor and project lead, Christine Schimmel, associate professor and University faculty ombudsperson, and Kim Floyd, associate professor and interim associate school director — all in the School of Counseling and Well-Being — will guide the rollout of a new program designed to put more counselors in schools across West Virginia, starting in Harrison County.

Student research shows need for increased AEDs

Abbey Clark stands with her research poster at the capitol.

Abbey Clark, a senior health and well-being student from Clarksburg, W.Va., recently visited the West Virginia capitol to present her findings on the availability of automated external defibrillator in classroom buildings at WVU.

Clark’s father, who was in the family’s driveway after returning home by bus in June 2021, had gone into cardiac arrest two years ago, and largely survived due to her sister promptly performing CPR and emergency services administering the AED. Since her father had nearly gone into cardiac arrest on the bus, she and her family led a successful effort to make AEDs standard in all new state public vehicles in West Virginia.

WVU faculty member recognized for rural education and social justice efforts

Kim Floyd, on left, wearing black top and son, Kasey, on right, wearing glasses and white shirt.

The American Council on Rural Special Education has established a new award in honor of Kim Floyd, associate professor in the College of Applied Human Sciences School of Counseling and Well-being, and her son, Kasey.

The ACRES board created the Kim and Kasey Floyd Rural Social Justice Award to recognize individuals or organizations who have worked to personally address inequities in educational opportunities or access due to systemic social injustice for persons with disabilities who live in rural areas and are further disenfranchised or disempowered.