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Mary Taylor Shaak always knew she wanted to attend West Virginia University, but she didn’t expect to find her passion in mental health and addiction studies. Now a senior set to graduate in December 2025, the Charleston, W.Va., native has embraced opportunities to support others through her work with WVU’s Collegiate Recovery Program. Her experiences—both personal and professional—have shaped her commitment to making a difference in the field of mental health.

Holly Rogers navigated her fair share of challenges in her journey to West Virginia University. A lifelong athlete, she devoted over a decade to competitive softball, spending countless hours on fields and in training. A series of injuries ultimately lead her not to one, but four, reconstructive ankle surgeries.

Out of high school, Rogers headed to Montgomery College, a junior college located in her hometown of Rockville, Md. After writing a paper on the psychology of injury recovery, her professor urged her to look into the field of sports psychology and encouraged her to consider it as a potential career.

Makayla Brooks dropped out of high school convinced that school was not for her. Later, though, with the support of her family, she earned her GED and was still looking for more. While attending a community college in Pittsburgh she realized that she wanted to work with children and families. Her father-in-law was a WVU grad and her classes were transferrable, so she became a Mountaineer. She'll now graduate in December with her degree in Child Development and Family Studies with her sights set on becoming a social worker.

Mary Lu Adams has always been someone who embraces challenges, but even she couldn’t have anticipated the obstacles she would face in her pursuit of a new career. Now a graduate student in counseling at West Virginia University, Adams’ journey is marked by resilience, courage, and a determination to finish what she started.

Adams, originally from Wheeling, studied psychology at Bethany College and earned her master’s degree from Pitt before beginning her professional life in higher education. She worked at several institutions, including Wheeling Jesuit University and Georgia Southern University, and also in the nonprofit sector, but ultimately found herself yearning for something different.

As Jess Phillips prepares to graduate from WVU in December with a degree in Mental Health and Addiction Studies and a minor in Child Development and Family Studies, she reflects on her journey of growth and resilience. Originally from Doylestown, Pa., Phillips discovered her passion for helping others after switching majors and receiving support from faculty, along with hands-on experiences that prepared her for a meaningful career. Overcoming personal challenges with the help of WVU’s supportive community, she now plans to work with children and adolescents before pursuing a master’s degree in early education or counseling. 

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.

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.

The West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences recognized four for their outstanding contributions to the college during the 2023-24 academic year. Sean Bulger, Dana Musick, Emi Tsuda and Sam Zizzi were recognized among their peers at its annual all-college assembly on May 8.

Sean Bulger was the recipient of the Laddie R. Bell Distinguished Service Award for his demonstrated authentic, servant, and visionary leadership. As Associate Dean for Online Education and Technology, he reimagined master’s programs, developed new online graduate certificates, and strategized a transition plan for the university’s new learning management system. Bulger also led the development of the YOU at WVU app, the CAHS Digital Learning Hub, and the college’s online portfolio. Additionally, he stepped in to serve as the Interim Director for the School of Counseling and Well-Being in January to lead that unit through the conclusion of the academic term. Beyond his administrative roles, he coordinated the master's in physical education online program, served on multiple college and university committees, and mentored key leaders within the School of Sport Sciences. His forward-thinking impact is evident in his efforts to foster excellence, innovation, and continuous development within the academic community.