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West Virginia University's literacy education master’s degree program has once again earned “National Recognition” status from the International Literacy Association. This achievement demonstrates the program’s alignment with ILA’s rigorous standards for preparing literacy professionals to excel as K-12 classrooms as reading specialists, literacy coaches, and classroom leaders.

This recognition is the first step in a two-phase process. WVU is now preparing to pursue “ILA National Recognition With Distinction,” the highest honor for literacy education programs. WVU earned this recognition in the inaugural year of the award in 2019 and maintained it through 2024.

Phillip Elias Howard’s life has been defined by an insatiable desire to learn and a steadfast commitment to justice. Raised in Uniontown, Pa., a town shaped by coal mining, coke production, and union struggles, Howard grew up with a deep awareness of the systemic forces that shape communities. These influences, coupled with the dedication of his parents—both educators in their own ways—instilled in him a profound respect for education and the power it holds to transform lives.

Uniontown, like many industrial towns in Pennsylvania, bore the scars of deindustrialization. The town and its surrounding “patch” company towns were integral to supplying the Mon Valley and Pittsburgh-area steel mills with the coal and coke essential for steel production. Uniontown’s sole steel mill closed in the 1880s, but coal and coke industries remained dominant for decades, shaping the local economy and culture. The decline brought high rates of unemployment, government assistance, and rising crime.

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.

The College of Applied Human Sciences continues to enhance its online education capabilities with the addition of Lyndsay Burneisen as an instructional designer.

Burneisen will work closely with faculty and staff to create engaging, innovative, accessible, and effective instructional materials for online courses.

WV Healthy Schools in Action, a partnership between the West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences and the CDC, is setting new standards for school wellness in West Virginia. Through this five-year initiative, West Virginia was selected as one of 20 states to receive CDC funding, with initial efforts focused on transforming wellness practices in Mercer County.

In the project’s first year, WVHSIA achieved 100 percent participation across Mercer County’s 24 schools, each of which created a wellness team led by a dedicated wellness leader. Teams assessed their wellness programs using the School Health Index (SHI), identifying both strengths and growth opportunities, and developed action plans tailored to the specific needs of their school communities.

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.

Donna Staggs, a program manager in the College of Applied Human Sciences, has been named WVU’s 2024 Most Loyal Staff Mountaineer as part of Mountaineer Week. This honor recognizes her 36 years of dedication to the University and commitment to embodying WVU’s core values.

West Virginia University’s WELLWVU program offers comprehensive wellness education to students through workshops, outreach, and resources. Madison Ligan, a graduate student in counseling from the College of Applied Human Sciences, serves as a graduate assistant with WELLWVU, where she leads initiatives focused on resilience, coping skills, and connecting students to mental health resources.

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.