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Sam Zizzi, the Dr. Pat Fehl Endowed Professor in the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, was one of five finalists for the 2025 West Virginia Professor of the Year award, presented by the Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia.

The award was presented on April 9 at a banquet in the Great Hall of the West Virginia State Capitol Culture Center in Charleston. Peggy Fink, Associate Professor of Nursing at WVU Tech, was named the 2025 Professor of the Year. The other finalists recognized at the banquet were Rico Gazal, Glenville State University; Rebecca Giorcelli, Fairmont State University; and Barbara Ladner, West Virginia State University.

Gonzalo Bravo and Cindy Lee, professors in the sport management program at West Virginia University, recently delivered a one-day continuing education workshop for sport administrators, teachers, and coaches in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The workshop, hosted by the Sport Leaders Institute of Zimbabwe (SLIZ) in partnership with the WVU School of Sport Sciences, brought together 35 sport professionals. Led by SLIZ President Maradza Mhiribidi, the event focused on how sport can be leveraged as a driver of economic and community development.

Gary Lhotsky, a Bridgeport native who serves as a teaching associate professor for the  School of Sport Sciences in the College of Applied Human Sciences, has been selected for the February Faculty Feature. 

In classrooms where instruction is increasingly structured, Courtney Shimek’s work makes a case for the value of play, conversation, and curiosity in how young children develop literacy. Shimek, the 2024-25 CAHS Research of the Year, studies early childhood literacy and teacher preparation that focuses on how children develop understanding through authentic classroom experiences and how teachers can be prepared to support that process. Through her research and teaching, she encourages educators to remain flexible and reflective as they respond to how students engage with language in the classroom.

Sam Zizzi, Dr. Pat Fehl Endowed Professor in the School of Sport Sciences in the College of Applied Human Sciences, is among five finalists for the 2025 Professor of the Year award from the Faculty Merit Foundation of West Virginia.

Sean Bulger and Liz Rexroad from CAHS were among the 10 exceptional employees recognized at the inaugural Outstanding Mountaineer Awards.

What began as a temporary stop at West Virginia University turned into a 25-year career for Sam Zizzi, now the Dr. Pat Fehl Endowed Professor in the College of Applied Human Sciences. A reknowned expert in sport, exercise and performance psychology, Zizzi studies why motivation fades, how mindfulness reshapes performance, and what helps people sustain healthier habits in real life. Read more about how Zizzi’s research, teaching and service continue to impact performance and well-being.

Jessica Troilo, associate professor and associate dean for research, engagement and faculty affairs in the  WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, is available to explain what drives holiday conflicts and share strategies to keep gatherings positive.

Kristine Ramsay-Seaner is advancing resources for rural middle school counselors through the USDA-funded Launch Fellowship. The initiative introduces counselors to careers in food and agricultural sciences while providing mentorship, peer support, and hands-on learning opportunities. Ramsay-Seaner sees her role as bridging professional gaps for practitioners in high-need schools, ensuring they have the tools, connections, and encouragement to better serve students. WVU’s support and leadership are featured in a recent video showcasing the program, and Ramsay-Seaner is now helping recruit the next cohort of fellows for 2026.

The West Virginia Reading Association honored one faculty member and two alumni of West Virginia University’s Literacy Education program at its most recent annual conference.

Aimee Morewood, professor and program coordinator of literacy education in the WVU School of Education and Counseling, received the Madge McDaniel Award, which recognizes educators who have made an outstanding contribution to helping students become proficient, lifelong readers.

The West Virginia University College of Applied Human Sciences has named three faculty members to endowed professorships in recognition of their outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service.

Sean Bulger , a professor in the School of Sport Sciences, was recognized with the Chester E. and Helen B. Derrick CAHS Endowed Professorship. Allison Swan Dagen , a professor in the School of Education, was awarded the Chester E. and Helen B. Derrick Teacher Education Endowed Professorship. Erin McHenry-Sorber, a professor in the School of Education, has been appointed the Alice Trotter Muffly Endowed Professorship.

The College of Applied Human Sciences recognized five faculty and staff members for their outstanding contributions during the 2024-25 academic year at the college-wide assembly held on May 15.

Courtney Shimek received the CAHS Outstanding Researcher Award, which recognizes a faculty member whose research has significantly impacted their field in the past year. Shimek’s research focuses on early childhood literacy and teacher preparation. Since January 2024, she has published four peer-reviewed journal articles and two peer-reviewed book chapters, with topics spanning multimodal read-aloud strategies, the science of reading, and educator mentorship. Her research has appeared in high-impact academic journals such as The Reading Teacher as well as practitioner outlets like the West Virginia Reading Association Visual Journal, supporting classroom teachers across the state. She also contributed book chapters that explored innovations in post-pandemic education and strategies for mentoring novice teacher educators. In addition to her publishing activity, she also led or contributed to several grant initiatives, including a $120,000 project funded by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to support early literacy across West Virginia, and presented at national and state-level conferences.

West Virginia University baseball head coach Steve Sabins and Director of the School of Sports Sciences Dana Voelker have announced the addition of Courtney Semkewyc as a Biomechanist and Service Assistant Professor, a role that connects the School of Sport Sciences and the Baseball Biomechanics and Performance Center. Semkewyc will lead the center's daily operations while contributing to teaching, research, and outreach in sport biomechanics and related areas.

Kim Floyd, professor in the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, was recently honored as a co-author of the 2024 Article of the Year by Rural Special Education Quarterly. The paper, What Do Rural Special Education Teachers Say?: Examining the Reported Needs and Recommendations for Retention, was selected by the journal’s editorial team for its impact, citations, and readership.

Floyd and her co-authors received the award during the annual American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES) conference, held April 4.

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.