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The School of Sport Sciences in the College of Applied Human Sciences at West Virginia University was identified by Newsweek.com as one of the leading sport sciences programs in the U.S.

"It is extremely exciting for our school to be recognized as one of the foremost programs in the country. It is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the faculty," Valerie Wayda, associate professor, associate dean for academic affairs, undergraduate education and school of sport sciences director, said.

Christine Schimmel, associate professor of counseling, has been appointed as the new WVU faculty ombudsperson for the 2022-23 academic year.

Selected through an internal, University-wide search process by a committee with representatives from the WVU Faculty Senate and the Provost’s Office, Schimmel will provide confidential and informal assistance to all faculty members across the University community.

One of the primary calls to action for Autumn Tooms Cyprès, founding dean for the College of Applied Human Sciences at West Virginia University, is to continue to foster the relationships between public schools and the University. Cyprès took immediate action in this regard by recently accepting a position on the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative Board.

The WVPEC Board is a collection of leaders from across the state and nation that have a commitment to all levels of public education. The organization works with government officials, as well as education and business leaders, to tackle public education challenges while striving to build a more seamless pipeline from K-12 and higher education to in-demand jobs. The WVPEC engages in a number of activities aimed at providing tools and resources necessary to help West Virginia students and teachers.

CAHS is hosting 2022 Academic Day, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the WVU Museum Education Center, to welcome incoming freshmen to the family, allowing them to connect with peers, faculty and staff. CAHS inaugural Dean Autumn Cyprès will provide insight about the first-year experience. The new students will join in a scavenger hunt to explore the Evansdale campus and become familiar with their new home. Additionally, the gathering will include program specific academic sessions. For more information, contact CAHSInfo@mail.wvu.edu.

Two new faculty members will join the College of Applied Human Sciences for fall 2022. Joni Williamson, sport management teaching assistant professor, and Rachel Wattick, health and well-being teaching assistant professor, bring experience in athletics administration and food science, respectively.

Williamson comes to WVU after spending the last four years as the director of athletics and adventure sports at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, N.C. She has held additional roles at the NCAA in academic and membership affairs, Wittenberg University as associate director of athletics, Wright State as director of athletics promotions and Washington State as facilities operations assistant.

Contributing to more than 480,000 deaths annually in the United States, smoking remains a problem nationwide, especially in the state of West Virginia. A West Virginia University professor is part of a team that is leading an effort to help adults quit smoking.

Peter Giacobbi, professor in the College of Applied Human Sciences and a member of the School of Public Health, is collaborating with research colleagues from the University of Arizona, the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, N.Y. and WV First Choice Services to launch the Be Smoke Free project.

The West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences, the newest college at WVU, officially launched its website at appliedhumansciences.wvu.edu.

The website features comprehensive information on the college and all of its academic programs housed within the three schools that comprise the new unit: the School of Counseling and Well-Being, the School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.

Every child is unique in their abilities, strengths and interests. With multiple options for online learning and academic programs available for purchase, it can be overwhelming to decide how to best support your children and their continued learning in the summer months.

Stephanie Lorenze and Ashley Martucci, service associate professors in the College of Applied Human Sciences, School of Education, have offered a guide for summer enrichment options.

In West Virginia, inequities in youth access to mental health services have been magnified by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a statewide school counselor shortage. Research demonstrates that classroom teachers want to assist students who are experiencing mental health issues, but they do not always have the knowledge or resources to intervene.

To better equip West Virginia teachers and other school personnel to identify the signs and symptoms of mental health crises among students, Rawn Boulden, assistant professor, and Christine Schimmel, associate professor, of the School Counseling and Well-Being at West Virginia University, have received a five-year, $500,000 grant to provide Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in West Virginia schools.

Haley Sperringer has joined the Office of Student Success as a student success coordinator in the School of Sport Sciences.

Sperringer, from Morgantown, says she is looking forward to her new role. “I’m excited to work with students in the School of Sport Sciences to help them achieve their academic goals,” she explained.