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The Center for ActiveWV in the West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences received $390,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the first year of a five-year cooperative agreement for its WV Healthy Schools in Action project. The initiative, which aims to address the pressing health challenges faced by West Virginia schools and students, is anticipated to have $1.95 million in funding over five years.

The WV Healthy Schools in Action project aims to develop targeted approaches that enhance physical activity, healthy dietary behaviors, and self-management of chronic health conditions among underserved students statewide, with a special focus on Mercer County. By implementing comprehensive knowledge and capacity-building strategies aligned with the "Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child" framework, the project seeks to improve school health policies, practices, programs, and services that promote healthy behaviors and health equity practices.

The School of Sport Sciences recently had several faculty, students and alumni recognized for outstanding work across multiple fields and disciplines.

Tsuda named SHAPE Research Fellow
Emi Tsuda, assistant professor, was named a SHAPE Research Fellow at the organization’s annual conference. Fellow status is reserved for members who have made significant and sustained contributions to scholarship (research, creative, or scholarly activity) and related service in the areas of interest to SHAPE America. The purpose of Fellow status is to promote scholarship as an integral component of SHAPE America, recognize accomplishments in scholarship and promote participation in research activities of SHAPE America.

Matthew Campbell, associate professor of mathematics education in the College of Applied Human Sciences School of Education, has been named the 2023 College/University Mathematics Teacher of the Year by the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Campbell was recognized at a ceremony on March 17 as part of the WVCTM annual conference at the Stonewall Resort. Since 1982, awards are given annually to educators at the elementary, middle school, high school, and college levels in recognition of exemplary and impactful mathematics teaching and service in the field of mathematics education.

Ashley Martucci, associate service professor in the College of Applied Human Sciences, School of Education, is one of five faculty members be named as a recipients of the University’s 2023-24 Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program.

The Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program at WVU is designed to stimulate scholarly initiatives through the creation of an academic community within the institutions in the Big 12 Athletic Conference. The Big 12 Faculty Fellowship Program offers WVU faculty members the opportunity to travel to member institutions to exchange ideas and research. Faculty may work on collaborative research, consult with faculty and students, offer a series of lectures or symposia, acquire new skills, or take advantage of a unique archive or laboratory facility.

Emily Murphy, associate professor of health and well-being in the College of Applied Human Sciences, is one of four West Virginia University faculty members to be recognized for their exceptional teaching and service to the University, students and community.

Murphy was one of two recipients of the Ethel and Gerry Heebink Awards for Distinguished State Service, which recognize faculty or staff members who have provided distinguished service to West Virginia over a period of time. These awards were established by David Heebink in 1982 in memory of his parents, Ethel and Gerry Heebink, two former University employees. She is the recipient of the 2023 Heebink Award for extended (i.e., at least eight years) distinguished service to West Virginia.

As WVU continues to grow as a national leader in the collegiate esports scene, Chris Scroggins is taking on the role of director of the esports academic program while also serving as a service assistant professor in the College of Applied Human Sciences.

“One of the most exciting things about it is that WVU is one of the first major R1 institutions to go all in on esports,” Scroggins said. “It’s exciting that we’re offering esports at an institution of this caliber. This is the flagship school of this state, and it’s spectacular that we’re willing to invest in it and really be a trailblazer at this level.

West Virginia University Ware Distinguished Professor Eloise Elliott is the newest member of the Cooper Institute FitnessGram Advisory Board, designed to promote life-long fitness and wellness through research and education.

The Cooper Institute works to provide research and programs that focus on the importance of physical activity across all stages of life. FitnessGram is one of the institute’s youth initiatives that strives to educate children and adolescents about the benefits of physical activity now and later in life.

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.

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.

A West Virginia University instructional design expert is looking to break the code of the traditional elementary school classroom.

Here is what Ugur Kale envisions: In an upper-elementary classroom in West Virginia, kids are learning about food access. It’s an issue that affects many of their families, who might purchase groceries with WIC or live nowhere near a supermarket.