West Virginia University at Parkersburg, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley and the Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce, will host a Business After Hours and open house event on Tuesday, April 16, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on the Parkersburg campus.

“We are rolling out the blue and gold carpet for the community with a fashion show, live music, and much more, as we welcome everyone to tour our campus,” said WVU Parkersburg President Chris Gilmer. “We want everyone to know we are WVU Parkersburg Proud.”

The theme of the event is “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway musical “Rent” and celebrates the idea that a year can be transformative in a person’s life. A 1970s-themed fashion show featuring WVU Parkersburg students, staff and faculty will kick off the event at 5 p.m. in the College Activities Center.

Following the fashion show, guests will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours of the campus to learn more about the college’s academic offerings. Also included on the campus tours will be catered food stations, entertainment, music and fun activities.

“When we met with Dr. Gilmer and his team as they started planning this gathering, I was inspired by how much he loves this campus, the students and employees, but, more importantly, that he wants the community to love it, too,” said Jill Parsons, president and CEO, Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley. “Incorporating the ‘Seasons of Love’ theme to remind the community of the history and legacy of WVU Parkersburg will be a blast back to the 1970s. This event will be a wonderful opportunity to reinforce what a great resource WVU Parkersburg is for the Mid-Ohio Valley as they showcase many of the programs and activities at the school.”

Lawrence R. Greene will present an African drum session, and tours of the newly-renovated, state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs will be available throughout the evening. Guests can also view demonstrations of the college’s new high-tech robotic arm equipment.

The Rhodes Family, comprised of Dusty Rhodes playing the guitar and granddaughter Rebecca playing the fiddle, will showcase the sounds of Appalachian music. Also providing musical entertainment during the event will be The Smoot Theatre Barbershop Quartet.

Additionally, a “Seasons of Love: A Year in the Life of 1971” exhibit will be on display, and local student actors will be performing songs from the musical “Rent” in the theater.
“Belpre Area Chamber members and Board of Directors are excited to be joining our friends from other area chambers at this exciting event,” said Karen Waller, executive director, Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce. “This proves there really is no barrier such as a state line when we gather to support education, workforce development, and business growth in our valley. This new partnership will certainly prove beneficial to the Belpre area as we work to expand and retain business.”

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg nursing program is partnering with the Riverhawk Food Pantry to host a Dr. Seuss-themed baby shower for Kelly’s Closet on Monday, April 15, from 12:15 to 4 p.m. in room 2539. The event is open to the community.

The baby shower is a celebration of a new arrival on campus – an infant simulator named Blake – which was recently gifted to the college’s nursing program by the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation. Blake is a high-fidelity wireless simulator that offers students realistic hands-on patient care experience through true-to-life physical and physiological attributes essential for effective neonatal care simulation training.

During the event, students, faculty and staff in the nursing program will be collecting monetary donations and other much-needed items for Kelly’s Closet. The local nonprofit organization provides clothing, shoes and backpacks for children in foster or kinship care in the Mid-Ohio Valley from newborn to 18 years of age.

Guests will also enjoy refreshments and tours of the college’s newly renovated state-of-the-art nursing simulation labs, as well as the opportunity to see WVU Parkersburg nursing students actively participating in simulations throughout the event.

“The infant simulator has been a tremendous asset in preparing our students in the Associate Degree in Nursing program to be the best providers across the life span to our community,” said Stephanie Smith-Stout, assistant professor of nursing and simulation coordinator, WVU Parkersburg. “We are hosting this baby shower, in collaboration with our very own Riverhawk Food Pantry, to show our appreciation for this gift and to pass along the blessing to children and families in need in our community.”

Kelly’s Closet is currently in need of the following items:

• Diapers of any size
• Underwear (sizes 2T – adult XL)
• Socks (crew or footie) for children and adults
• Leggings, capris and shorts (female, sizes newborn – adult XL)
• Sweats, athletic pants and shorts (male, sizes newborn – adult XL)
• Bras (training bras – sports bras, all sizes)
• Pajamas (male and female, newborn – adult XL)
• Athletic shoes and sneakers (sizes 2 youth – 9 adult, especially larger sizes for teens)

For more information, please contact Stephanie Smith-Stout at 304-424-8608 or ude.puvw@tuotss.

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors will meet Wednesday, April 10. The meeting will take place at 3:15 p.m. in room 1300A on the main campus

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West Virginia University at Parkersburg will celebrate National Poetry Month with three campus events in April. All events are free to attend and open to the public.

On Wednesday, April 3, WVU Parkersburg President Chris Gilmer and long-time adjunct instructor Peg Clifford will discuss why they write poetry, how poetry connects us to one another, and read from their original works. The event will take place from 12:20 to 12:50 p.m. in room 2209.

A poetry reading by WVU Parkersburg students in instructor Peg Clifford’s public speaking class is scheduled for Monday, April 15, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the student lounge.

West Virginia poet Jonathan Minton will read from his new book titled, “Technical Notes for Bird Government,” on Monday, April 29, from 12:20 to 12:50 p.m. in the college theater.

Minton lives in central West Virginia, where he is the director of the Honors Program and associate professor of English at Glenville State College. His chapbooks include “Lost Languages” (Long Leaf Press) and “In Gesture” (Dyad Press). His poetry and reviews have appeared in the Asheville Poetry Review, Drunken Boat, Coconut, Eratio, Columbia Poetry Review, Reconfigurations, Free Verse, among other journals, and in the anthologies “Oh One Arrow” (Flim Forum), “Poems for Peace” (Structa Press) and “Crazed by the Sun” (Cyberwit Press). He edits the journal Word For/Word.

“Poetry has always been a way for people to document their eras, reach out to others in the community and beyond, and express an enormous range of thoughts and emotions,” said Dr. Sandra Kolankiewicz, associate professor of English, WVU Parkersburg. “The poet speaks not only for the individual self, but the humanity that we all share.”

National Poetry Month is known as the “largest literary celebration in the world.” Founded in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, this month is dedicated to increasing awareness of the genre.

For more information, contact Dr. Sandra Kolankiewicz at 304-424-8297 or skolanki@wvup.edu.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg will host author and mental health advocate David Finnegan-Hosey on Wednesday, April 3 at 12:15 p.m. in the college theater (room 1305). His presentation, “Viewing Mental Health and Spirituality,” is free and open to the public.

During “Viewing Mental Health and Spirituality,” Finnegan-Hosey will discuss the stigma surrounding mental illness as well as reflect on Christian ministries within the mental health field. He will also share his story of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a series of psychiatric hospitalizations.

“We are very pleased to have David Finnegan-Hosey on campus to share insight on the matters of mental health and spirituality as well as his struggle to overcome a diagnosis with bipolar disorder,” said WVU Parkersburg Wellness Coordinator Pamela Santer. “By helping breakdown the myths and stereotypes surrounding mental illness, we as a society are better able to assist individuals in getting the help they need.” ­

­­Finnegan-Hosey currently serves as the college chaplain and director of campus ministries at Barton College in Wilson, NC. He holds a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. In addition, Finnegan-Hosey is certified by Mental Health First Aid USA to provide initial help to people experiencing anxiety, depression, psychosis and substance use disorders.

In 2018, Finnegan-Hosey released his book, “Christ on the Psych Ward,” which contains­­­­­­ personal reflections on the intertwining of mental health, faith and ministry.

For more information, contact Pamela Santer at Pam.Santer@wvup.edu or (304) 424-8205.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg has been awarded a $293,201 grant from the West Virginia Community and Technical College System to support a leadership development program at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center.

Through the grant, WVU Parkersburg will provide a customized 17-month leadership training program to 120 leaders within the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center organization to help meet workforce development needs. The goal of the program is to strengthen the organization’s leadership team, increase customer satisfaction, increase management productivity, provide greater focus on fiscal goals and improve communication.

“We are working hard every day to prove our commitment to be the college of choice in every way to the communities we serve,” said Dr. Chris Gilmer, president, WVU Parkersburg. “Helping to nurture the workforce of one of our most important area service leaders is a tangible example of this commitment. We appreciate their confidence in us.”

WVU Parkersburg instructors will provide training sessions each month focusing on a variety of leadership topics. The program will start in May and run through November 2020.

“Over the past several years, WVU Medicine Camden Clark has been striving to improve the care we provide to the communities we serve while enhancing the employee workplace environment since they are so connected,” said WVU Medicine Camden Clark Vice President of Human Resources Thomas Heller. “Our leadership team’s efforts have been vital in driving these two efforts. Over the next two months, WVU Parkersburg will be developing a curriculum that will address the core competencies that we want all of our leaders to exhibit. We are very appreciative of WVU Parkersburg’s efforts to obtain the grant for this and we are confident that this training will have a significant positive impact on our employees and the patients we serve.”

The West Virginia Community and Technical College System’s Rapid Response Advance Grant program was created to enable community colleges to respond in a timely manner to the workforce development needs of employers.

“This partnership is a wonderful opportunity to help WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center achieve its goals by tailoring curriculum that focuses on the company’s mission, vision and values,” said Michele Wilson, executive director of Workforce and Economic Development, WVU Parkersburg. “We are grateful for the support of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System who helped make this possible. This is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership.”

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors will meet Wednesday, March 13. The meeting will take place at 3:15 p.m. in the student lounge of the Jackson County Center campus.

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The inaugural members of the Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business were installed at West Virginia University at Parkersburg during a ceremony held on Tuesday, Feb. 26 in the college theater.

During the ceremony, the society inducted 23 founding student members and 13 honorary members. Inductees took the official oath of membership and were presented with a certificate, the honor society’s key and an honor cord. Dr. Bernice Purcell, Delta Mu Delta regional representative and associate dean of Holy Family University, officiated the ceremony and officially installed the new chapter at the college.

Additionally, officers Austin Grimmett, Breanna Paxton and Jillian Ballengee were installed as president, vice president/treasurer and secretary, respectively.

Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society established to recognize and reward superior scholastic achievement of students in business administration, as well as faculty members and business leaders who have experienced measurable success in their profession.

Membership to Delta Mu Delta is by invitation only and extended to undergraduate students who meet specific eligibility criteria. To be eligible for membership, students must be in the top 20 percent of their class and completed at least one-half of their course work for a baccalaureate degree with an average cumulative grade of at least .25 above a “B”.

“Congratulations to the first class of inductees of the Omicron Pi chapter of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society in recognition of their outstanding academic and professional achievements in the field of business,” said Dr. Billy Stone, assistant professor in the Business, Accounting and Public Service Division at WVU Parkersburg and faculty advisor for the Omicron Pi of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society. “I look forward to the future of Delta Mu Delta on our campus.”

The Omicron Pi chapter of Delta Mu Delta members inducted include:

Undergraduate inductees: Faith Atkinson; Jillian Ballengee; Justin Bosley; Timothy Bower; Amber Davis; Lauryn Fields; Terrence Francisco; Austin Grimmett; Mary Hammons; Joshua Johnson; Natasha Mason; Breanna Paxton; Victoria Poellot-Tauber; Mahkayla Queen; Tiffany Roberts; Daniel Seebaugh; Sherilyn Stahlman; Mariah Stansberry; Audrey Ungar; Kylee Walker; Paul Weekley; Shianne Winters; and Sandipa Wolfe.

Honorary inductees: Debra Baker; Pam Braden; Dr. Chad Crumbaker; Holly Dexter; Dr. Chris Gilmer; Dr. Matthew Graves; Jeff Holland; Dr. Larry Muller; Dr. Sy Sarkarat; Dr. Vijay Shah; Dr. Billy Stone; Carol Thomas; and Lisa Wilkinson.

For more information about WVU Parkersburg’s Omicron Pi chapter of Delta Mu Delta, contact faculty advisor Dr. Billy Stone at 304-424-8281 or billy.stone@wvup.edu.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg was awarded a $379,000 grant to purchase high-tech robotic arm equipment for students to learn state-of-the-art real-world automated manufacturing processes. The purchase of the equipment was made possible through a Rapid Response Advance Grant from the West Virginia Community and Technical College System (WVCTCS) to address the state’s workforce needs.

With the granted funds, the college installed five robotic arms, which will be integrated into the advanced manufacturing technology degree program curriculum for the fall 2019 semester. Last week, two faculty members traveled to Rochester Hills, Mich. as part of the grant for equipment training.

The robotic arms are compact, six-axis robots with the approximate size and reach of a human arm. Each is manufactured by FANUC and equipped with its iRVision programming that allows for reliable 2D and 3D detection for visual line tracking and bin/panel picking. Students will learn how to program the robots to do various tasks typical for manufacturing operations like sorting, stacking and packaging.

In addition to instruction under the advanced manufacturing degree program, the college’s Workforce and Economic Development Division will provide FANUC’s manufacturing certification through short-term courses for quicker training and faster workforce entry.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that the WVCTCS has provided us through this grant,” said Dr. Jared Gump, division chair of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs at WVU Parkersburg. “It allows our students the opportunity to learn real-world advanced automation integration with modern technology from a national leader in industrial robotic technology.”

Visit wvup.edu/amt to learn more about WVU Parkersburg’s advanced manufacturing technology degree program or call (304) 424-8310 to speak with an admissions representative.

The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Social Justice Committee will host National Public Radio (NPR) television critic Eric Deggans on Monday, Feb. 25 from 12:15-1 p.m. in the college theater (room 1305). The presentation, “Building Bridges Instead of Walls: Decoding Media’s Confusing Coverage of Race and Culture,” is free and open to the public and will be streamed live to the Jackson County Center in room 207.

During his presentation, Deggans will explain why he believes media outlets have fallen short in covering race and culture issues, provide tips on how to recognize when the media practices the politics of division and how to decode the media’s messages and their motives. He will also offer a guide for how to talk about race and culture across racial, class and cultural lines.

“We are pleased to have a social commentator of Mr. Deggans’ stature to stimulate dialogue on our campus around this important topic,” said Dr. Chris Gilmer, WVU Parkersburg president. “WVU Parkersburg is a place of safety where all points of view are welcome and mutually respectful debate is encouraged.”

Deggans is a media critic with more than 20 years of experience and author of Race Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation. Currently, he covers television and media issues for NPR, broadcasting to millions of listeners each week on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here and Now, and many other network shows. Deggans also serves as a contributor and media analyst for MSNBC and NBC News.

In 2013, Deggans was awarded the Florida Press Club’s first-ever Diversity award, honoring his coverage of issues involving race and media. That year, he also received the Legacy award from the National Association of Black Journalists’ Arts and Entertainment Task Force, given to seasoned arts and entertainment journalist who are at the top of their careers.

A book signing will follow the presentation for attendees who bring a copy of Race Baiter. For more information, contact Debbie Richards at Debbie.Richards@wvup.edu or (304) 424-8201.