University News

UniversityNews

Dr. Edward Wright Huffstetler Welcomed As New CU Provost,VP for Academic Affairs

Concord University welcomes Dr. Edward Wright Huffstetler as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He began his duties in July.

Dr. Huffstetler’s experience in higher education spans more than three decades having served in both administrative and teaching roles. Prior to his appointment at Concord, his most recent position was serving as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa. He has also served the school as a Professor of English.

His extensive administrative experience has focused on a range of areas including curriculum, faculty and staff, administration, assessment and accreditation, and special programs and outreach activities.

“Dr. Huffstetler has demonstrated a commitment to helping bring out the best in people, whether faculty, staff, or students. As the go-to Dean, he was known for crafting strong, collaborative relationships, which will make him a strong addition to the CU team,” stated Mr. Daniel Fitzpatrick, Vice President of Operations and COO.

Dr. Huffstetler has also served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of English at Bridgewater College as well as in other positions for the Bridgewater, Va. school. Additionally, he has taught at James Madison University and at Kirkwood Community College.

Dr. Huffstetler received a bachelor’s degree from Coker University, majoring in English and Drama; a master’s degree in English and American Literature from the University of Iowa; and a Ph.D. in English and American Literature from the University of Iowa.

He is a member of the American Conference of Academic Deans; Association of American Colleges and Universities; Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures; and Association of Writers and Writing Programs.

Dr. Huffstetler has been honored with the Ben and Janice Wade Award for Excellence in Teaching; the Daniel C. Flory Grant for the Humanities; the Coker University Outstanding Young Alumni Award; and the Distinguished Poet Award from Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum.

He has a number of scholarly and administrative presentations to his credit along with an array of publications. His writing has appeared in peer-reviewed journals, reference materials and book reviews. A published author, his work includes poetry, short fiction, and several books.

Student Support Services Receives Funding for Five-Year Grant through US Dept. of Ed

Concord University’s Student Support Services (SSS) Program has been awarded federal funds totaling more than $1.7 million for a new five-year grant. The program has been refunded through 2025 with the award amount being $357,411 per year for the five-year period.

This federally-funded TRIO grant program paid through the U. S. Department of Education works to help first-generation, income eligible students and students with disabilities to successfully navigate the course of post-secondary education from entrance through graduation.

“Concord University has long been committed to improving student success and completion,” stated Dr. Sarah Beasley, Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Students. “Our SSS staff’s dedication to serving students is inspiring. We’re thrilled we will be able to continue the important work of supporting 200-plus student participants.” “Concord’s SSS team is excited to continue the tradition of support services for our participants while helping them navigate the challenges occurring in today’s world,” stated Kristen O’Sullivan, Director of Student Support Services.

The SSS Program at Concord is funded to work with more than 200 students annually and support four full time staff on campus. Services available to SSS students include: one-on-one tutoring services, peer mentoring, eligibility to apply for grant funding through the Student Support Services Supplemental Grant Aid program (SSSG), assistance with course selection, individualized counseling services (career, academic, personal, financial aid), cultural trips, utilization of the SSS computer lab, free printing, workshops (study skills, choosing a career, test taking strategies, funding your college degree, etc.) assistance applying for graduate school, and other supportive services.

For additional information about Student Support Services at Concord University please contact Kristen O’Sullivan at kosullivan@concord.edu or 304-384-6099.

Board of Governors Votes to Affirm Officers

The Concord University Board of Governors elected officers during its meeting on June 23. Chairman Dave Barnette, who will remain in his position, presented recommendations from the Executive Committee and the Board voted to affirm.

Richard Jarrell, owner of Chickfil-a franchises in the Beckley area, was reappointed to the position of Secretary. Dr. Brad Lane, an optometrist and practice owner with Appalachian Eye Care in Princeton, W.Va. and Pearisburg, Va., will now serve as the Vice Chair. He is replacing Bill McKee who has decided to step down from the board.

McKee has served on Concord’s Board since his appointment on Aug. 14, 2013. He is a retired wealth manager with Arnett Carbis Toothman, LLP in Charleston, W.Va. and currently resides in Florida.

Shown left to right are Richard Jarrell, Brad Lane and Dave Barnette.

“Bill McKee has been an asset to Concord University during his time serving on our Board of Governors. I am grateful for all he has contributed, and we will miss his guidance,” said President Kendra Boggess.

In addition to McKee, the Board also said farewell to the student representative. Taylor Carter, SGA President, will be handing her seat to SGA member Zoe Colley.

Senior Art Exhibition Presented Virtually

With the Arthur Butcher Gallery in the Fine Arts Center closed due to COVID-19, an exhibition of work by graduating seniors could not take place on campus during the Spring 2020 semester.

The senior artists did, however, have their moment in the spotlight thanks to a virtual exhibit. Select pieces of artwork from members of the class of 2020 were posted on the CU website for viewing.

During the week after midterms, art seniors arrange for a jury with all full time members of the Art faculty. The student presents the faculty with work to be considered for an art exhibition in the Arthur Butcher Gallery. If the faculty agree that at least six works are representative of professional level artwork, the student will pass the jury and make final revisions guided by the faculty before displaying their final work.

Traditionally, the exhibition is physically installed at the Arthur Butcher Gallery by the students who created the artworks. They agree on a time with the Art Department and arrange for a reception. These events are public and offer students the opportunity to share and discuss their artwork with friends, family, and people who have supported them.

Jamey Biggs, professor of Art, department chair, and director of the university gallery, says, “For Art students, the exhibition reception can be as important as commencement.”

Racing against stay-at-home orders this spring, students rushed to pick up their works and faculty shipped works to others who were unable to make arrangements. Work that would have been completed with University equipment had to now be completed at home.

“The students had to become experts at documenting their works without the benefit of direct faculty help,” Biggs says.

As they worked, students emailed images and statements to the Art faculty, who then arranged OneDrive folders for the artworks to be viewed simultaneously. The faculty held Zoom meetings to discuss the student works, make selections, and then make recommendations. The results were delivered to the students via email.

Since a reception was out of the question, Art faculty worked with Concord’s web developer to create a page where student work could be displayed.

This year’s exhibition includes watercolor paintings, mixed media images, computer graphics, ceramic sculptures, mixed media sculptures, pyrography, and photography. The web page dedicated to these works displays one work and a statement from the student that describes their work and intentions.

“The Art Faculty at Concord are very proud that the spring class of 2020 was poised to overcome the unique challenges of this point in history. We as a faculty are grateful to these students for choosing Concord University and contributing to the artistic discourse during their time here,” Biggs says. “The Art department traditions will continue to change and evolve. We are looking forward to hearing of our students’ future accomplishments.”

To view the exhibition, log on to www.concord.edu/seniorart.

Femur – Brooke King

Under Brush – Brooklynn Lilly

Lotus – Anthony Baldwin

Outreach during Pandemic Includes Personal Phone Calls from Student Affairs Staff

When Concord moved to all online courses this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Student Affairs staff went the extra mile to keep in touch with students. They undertook a special project with the goal of calling every CU undergraduate to check in with them.

“We made a commitment in Student Affairs very early on that we wanted to connect with all of our students to check in, see how they were doing with classes, remote learning and the abrupt ending to the in-person semester, and find out any challenges or successes they wanted to share,” stated Dr. Sarah Beasley, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students.

Calls were made primarily from the end of March through early April. Teaming up for the activity were staff from the Center for Academic and Career Development (CACD), Bonner, the Student Center/Student Activities, Counseling, Disability Services/Multicultural Affairs, Student Support Services, and Housing.

The staff spoke with students about the COVID-19 pandemic nationally and distance learning at Concord. They asked them if they needed any type of academic support and discussed what resources were available including putting them in contact with the CACD. If the students couldn’t be contacted by a phone call, texts and emails were used to reach out to them.

Sharon Manzo, who is the office assistant for the CACD, shares her experience of being one of the callers.

“Everyone I spoke with was receptive. Many thanked me for caring enough to check with them,” she said. “Some of my conversations were a little lengthy and of a casual nature. We just enjoyed a chat.”

For those students who didn’t answer, Mrs. Manzo explains that she “left the CACD phone number in a message, offered assistance, and encouraged them to call back.”

“I’m very glad we made this outreach effort; I think it was important,” she said.

New Health Sciences Major Added for Fall

Concord University is introducing a Health Sciences major for the Fall 2020 semester. With this new academic program, students can earn a bachelor’s degree that puts them on track for a career in allied health related fields and admission to graduate programs.

“The program was conceptualized as an avenue for Concord University to continue to meet the needs of the region, specifically preparing students for work in allied health related fields and to help students meet admission criteria for various allied health related graduate programs,” stated Dr. David Campbell, Chair of the Department of Health Sciences.

“Students enrolled in the B.S. in Health Science program can choose four different degree pathways that most closely align with their professional and educational goals,” he said. “Degree tracks include pre-physical therapy, pre-athletic training, exercise science, and pre-professional studies.”

For more information about the Health Sciences major please contact Dr. David Campbell at dcampbell@ concord.edu Additional information is also available on Concord’s website at https://www.concord.edu/Academics/Registrar/Four-Year-Plans.aspx

PHOTO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

We appreciate the photographs you share with us for possible inclusion in Concord’s magazine. To help us provide quality reproduction of photographs, we are offering the following guidelines for your information. Photographs need to be at least 300 dpi. Image file size needs to be at least 1mb per photo. Photos should be in jpeg format and taken with a camera and not a cellphone. If you have questions about guidelines, please contact the Office of Advancement at cboyd@concord.edu or 304-384-5258. Thank you!

New Master’s Added to Degree Offerings

Concord University is now offering a Master of Science in Athletic Training, a post-baccalaureate degree that will be recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

The MSAT is a five-year advanced degree designed to transition in sequence from the newly developed Bachelor of Science in Health Science (pre-athletic training emphasis). At the end of their sixth semester of study, pre-athletic training majors will transition in part from undergraduate to graduate studies, receiving their bachelor’s degree at the end of their eighth semester. They can then complete their ninth and tenth semesters in the advanced credentialed MSAT program.

Upon successful completion of the advanced degree program, students will be eligible to sit for the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Board of Certification exam.

“I’m elated that after years of concentrated, intentional work, we are finally able to announce the offering of the MSAT program,” says Dr. David Campbell, Chair of the Department of Health Sciences. “The development of this program was a concerted effort between faculty, students, staff, stake holders, university administration, state/federal government agencies, and the national accrediting (CAATE) body.”

Transfer students, upon successfully satisfying all admission criteria, may enroll in the program as well. For more information, contact Dr. John Roberts, Director of the Athletic Training Education Program, at 304-384-6346 or jcroberts@concord.edu. Dr. Campbell can be reached at 304-384-5331 or dcampbell@concord.edu.

Keeping Up With Concord

Social media has allowed people to keep in touch with individuals, groups and activities all across the globe and Concord is using some of these tools to keep its alumni connected to the University and each other. You can keep up with Concord through any (or all!) of the following outlets:

Facebook: Concord University Alumni

Association, Inc. and Concord University

Twitter: @CampusBeautiful and @ConcordUAlumni

LinkedIn: Official Concord University page and the Official Concord University Alumni group Snapchat: ConcordU1872

Instagram: ConcordUAlumni

We hope you will take advantage of each of these sites as a quick and easy way to keep up with Concord!

New Grant-Funded Lab Instrument Installed

The chemistry program in Concord University’s Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences has installed a major new laboratory instrument for teaching and research. The instrument allows students to use Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to accurately determine the chemical structure of organic compounds.

NMR is commonly used in the pharmaceutical and chemistry workforce for basic research, product design, and quality control in production facilities. With the addition of NMR to Concord’s instrumental chemistry laboratories, students will gain additional hands-on, career-focused skills. It will also help students learn to visualize the results of their experiments.

The instrument will be widely used in organic chemistry, a second-year course taken by Concord’s chemistry and biochemistry majors, molecular biology majors, and others pursuing studies in pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, and health sciences. Advanced students will use it for drug-development research and independent projects.

The NMR was funded by a $40,000 Innovation Grant from West Virginia Science and Research, a division of the Higher Education Policy Commission. Dr. Hong Yin served as principal investigator on the grant proposal with two department colleagues. “The NMR will be incorporated into lab classes for organic synthesis,” she stated. “Students will now have the opportunity to learn how to prepare samples, operate the spectrometer, acquire data, decode spectra, and identify unknown molecules produced during chemical reactions.”

For additional information about Concord University’s Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, visit: https://www.concord.edu/Academics/Colhttps://www.concord. edu/Academics/College-of-Natural-Sciences,-Mathematics,-and-Heal/Department-of-Physical-Science.aspx

CU Part of National Hope Center Project

Concord University has been selected one of at least 100 colleges and universities across the country to participate in the Emergency Aid During the Pandemic project. Being undertaken by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice at Temple University, the project will help institutions learn how they can better address instances of student need on campus.

Food and housing insecurities experienced by students are among the basic needs insecurities that are being addressed. According to the Hope Center, “these issues are even more prevalent during the pandemic.”

The project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to assist schools by “codifying processes so they can more equitably, and more efficiently administer emergency aid and ensure student success.”

Dr. Sarah Beasley, Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Students, explains that participating in the project will provide data that should prove especially useful in better serving the university’s students. She said the information could also assist in fundraising for scholarships and building upon programs that Concord had in place prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that address student need. These include an on-campus food pantry and the Gap Fund which provides small grants to undergraduates who have high unmet financial need or who find themselves in a financial situation that may lead to their dropping out of college.

As part of CU’s participation in the Emergency Aid During the Pandemic project, students and staff will be asked to complete surveys about need and emergency aid programs.

Concord will in turn receive information about how other U.S. colleges and universities are delivering emergency aid and receive an institution-specific report about student need and access to emergency aid. Additionally, as a participant, Concord will receive data based recommendations on how to better deliver emergency aid.

Student Support Services Launches New Student Engagement Internship Program

Students assisting and connecting with fellow students while gaining valuable leadership experience is the idea behind a new internship opportunity launched at Concord this spring.

“Concord Student Support Services (SSS) created the Student Engagement Internship to assist the program in staying better connected to student needs and to provide peer support,” explains Kristen O’Sullivan, Director of Student Support Services. “These positions were created out of the challenges of 2020 and the knowledge that peer support is often able to provide a different level of services than direct staff interactions.

“The Student Engagement Internships were born out of CU’s SSS Student Leadership Team, a team formed to keep the program grounded in current student ideas and issues,” she said.

Junior Tallya Rhodes, from Washington, D.C., and Destiny Robertson, a senior from McDowell County, are the first SSS students to serve as interns.

“Tallya and Destiny have done a great deal of content creation for the SSS Facebook group,” O’Sullivan said. “Their efforts have been tremendous and extremely well received as they help students have a platform to deal with the COVID pandemic and civil rights movement of recent months.”

Both students have found the internship to be rewarding and enjoyable and a great learning experience. They have developed skills that will be beneficial to them in the future in their careers.

“The SSS internship has provided me with opportunity in ways I would have never experienced,” Destiny said. “I am grateful to be a part of the SSS team.”

She explains that “collaborative work” is the most enjoyable part of the internship for her. “Our collective ideas have great turnouts and are very rewarding,” she said. “I help with visuals and creating an attractive social media platform. I think as a student I provide a more approachable and comfortable environment for students to be honest,” she said. “The internship has helped tremendously with my communication and scheduling.” Destiny says she has also cultivated marketing skills and the ability to create visuals for social media which she says will be “an asset to any profession”.

A sociology major, Destiny plans to attend graduate school after completing her degree at Concord, then work in the nonprofit sector.

While helping fellow students, Tallya says she has also developed skills in the process.

“My knowledge on professionalism has grown greatly since starting this internship as well as adaptability skills that I didn’t necessarily have before,” she said.

“When it comes to my work as a SSS intern, I get motivated through educating and helping others in any way I can. I try to do my best and be that person anyone can come to when they need help while also making sure that the right information is brought forward,” she said.

“I hope that I brought a new perspective to the SSS program through my internship…that the SSS staff and anyone else who listened took what I said and really thought about it and will look at situations differently, hopefully in a better way,” she said. “As an intern, I was brought on to help fellow students and be that student engagement middle man that was needed at the time.”

Tallya is majoring in athletic training with a minor in sports medicine. “After I graduate I plan to pursue a master’s degree at a college close to home while working part time at a high school in D.C.,” she says.

Tallya Rhodes, from Washington, D.C Destiny Robertson, from McDowell County

Austin Clay Named New Esports Head Coach

Concord University is welcoming Austin “Timesplitter56” Clay as the new Esports Head Coach. Clay brings a strong background in the esports industry as both a competitor and a coach to the position.

“Through a very rigorous and competitive selection process, we have found an outstanding esports coach to lead this cutting edge program to continued success in varsity gaming athletics,” states Andrew Sulgit, Assistant Dean of Students. “Concord is glad to welcome Coach Clay, and we are excited about the prospects for the teams this year.”

“I am looking forward to being able to create an environment that both fosters highly competitive teams, and one that creates a welcoming community to all,” Clay says. “Furthermore, I’m looking forward to being able to help out these students with their gaming skills, but also support and give them the chance to continue their life within the esports industry, may that be competing, graphic design work, back-end work for production, casting the games, PR/social media and many more types of jobs once they are done with getting their degree here at Concord.”

As founder of an esports program at Alfred State College in New York, Clay started the program from the ground up, gaining experience in coaching, playing, being a tournament official, directing, finding sponsorships, recruiting, public relations, and many other tasks. He ran the program for two years as the president/director.

Along with competing in Overwatch at the collegiate level, Clay also served as Alfred States’ head coach of the Overwatch team. Under his guidance, the team placed in the top 100 schools for two years, and took first place in the Empire State Winter Games at Paul Smith College in New York.

Clay also volunteered for several months as head coach of Overwatch at Ottawa University in Kansas, where he recruited and helped set up a team that he says has the chance of being in the top 10 of the nation.

Originally from Kendall, N.Y., Clay holds a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media and Animation from Alfred State College.

Since beginning competition in the fall of 2019, Concord Esports has made a mark as a powerhouse in national collegiate play. Concord holds the distinction of being the first public college or university in West Virginia to offer varsity esports to its students.

For additional information on Concord University’s esports program call 304-384-5320 or visit http://concord.edu/esports

CU Partners with Global Mentorship Initiative

Concord University is collaborating with Global Mentorship Initiative (GMI) beginning this fall. President Kendra Boggess signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the non-profit organization on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.

Global Mentorship Initiative is an organization created from the Rockefeller Foundation’s Digital Jobs Africa Initiative to help prepare students for their first career job. This agreement will connect students with mentors who can provide experience based guidance and business skills to help better prepare students to enter the job market after graduation.

“The project is key to the foundational stages of Concord’s Career Services initiative that focuses on reaching out to community partners, businesses, and local governmental agencies to help create an array of meaningful internship and mentorship activities,” says Phil Lewis, Director of Career Services.

Lewis adds that this collaboration is one of the latest additions to a campus-wide, career-oriented outreach program initiated by Dr. Boggess and coordinated through the Career Services office of the Center for Academic and Career Development.

Skills students will learn include interview best practices, communication skills in a corporate environment, and how to build a business network—business soft skills graduates often lack.

Faculty can nominate senior level students, who then must apply through GMI. Students can also contact Lewis in the Career Services office for more information at 304-384-6292.