Latest News

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 College of Applied Human Sciences made a significant impact at this year’s ShapeWV Conference held over the weekend at Canaan Valley Resort State Park. CAHS was well represented through a combination of presentations, exhibits, and awards recognizing the college’s faculty, students, and alumni.

The ShapeWV Conference provided a platform for CAHS to showcase its leadership in health and education, underscoring the college’s commitment to advancing these fields through research, service, and education. 

In the spring of 2021, Shelby Crews found herself at a crossroads. Like many recent graduates, she was trying to navigate the uncertainty of life after college, compounded by the isolation and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mentally, she was struggling, but thanks to her parents’ insurance, she was able to access counseling services to begin her healing process. Not everyone was as fortunate.

“I had a friend that was struggling very similarly to me,” she recalls. “We were walking almost identical paths, but while I had access to counseling, she didn’t. Her parents had let her go, and she couldn’t afford to pay for therapy on her own. That didn’t sit right with me.

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. 

Ryan Turek, a junior at West Virginia University majoring in sport management, is experiencing what most baseball fans only dream of – working during the Major League Baseball Playoffs. With the Cleveland Guardians hosting the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the playoffs, Turek, originally from Mayfield Heights, Ohio, was in the thick of it all as a ballpark runner, making sure operations behind the scenes run smoothly.

Turek’s path to this moment began in high school when he decided to pursue a summer job with the Cleveland Guardians.

When Alexander Neukam arrived at West Virginia University, he wasn’t entirely sure what path he would take. Like many students, he came in undecided, exploring his options and finding his footing. It wasn’t until a summer conversation after his freshman year with his grandparents, both nurses, that he realized his calling lay in health and well-being.

The Center for ActiveWV was recently recognized for its commitment to healthier communities across the state at the 2024 Celebrating Healthy West Virginia Awards. The Center for ActiveWV, housed in the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, was one of 42 organizations acknowledged for its positive health initiatives during a ceremony at Glade Springs Resort.

The award highlights the Center’s ongoing efforts to increase physical activity levels among West Virginians, in alignment with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. By fostering statewide collaboration, supporting research, and guiding policy, the Center for ActiveWV aims to improve the health and quality of life for all residents.

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.

Following a wave of threats made at nearly 50 West Virginia school sites and many others in states including Pennsylvania and Kentucky, WVU Professor Jeff Daniels says every threat must be taken seriously and outlined a course of action for threat assessment teams to take.

A researcher at West Virginia University is working to prevent risky behaviors like sexting and self-harm in rural youth. With $343,719 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding, assistant professor Kristine Ramsay-Seaner, a counseling expert at the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, will oversee the development of trainings and other resources to support professionals who work with youth in rural communities across the United States, in collaboration with the University of Georgia, South Dakota State University and North Dakota State University.