Marshall Magazine Summer 2022

Marshall Rises campaign exceeds $150 million goal

Summer 2022

HUFF'S

HERD Entering his second season, Coach Charles Huff is embracing change with the birth of a new son, a new conference and a bevy of new players.

See page 41 for ALUMNI NEWS and more

Marshall President Brad D. Smith Senior Vice President for Communications and Marketing Ginny Painter

The official magazine of Marshall University

m a g a z i n e

Summer 2022

Executive Editor Susan Tams Director of Communications Leah Payne Publisher Jack Houvouras

Contents

Office Manager Dana Keaton

4 CATCHING UP WITH THE PRESIDENT.

Art Director Suzanna Stephens

6 COVER STORY : Coach Huff embraces change including a new son, a new conference and new players by way of the NCAA transfer portal.

Senior Graphic Designer Katie Sigler

12 SPORTS : New Athletic Director Christian Spears is exactly who’s needed to fine-tune the school’s sports programs.

Contributing Photographers Rick Lee, Austin O’Connor Contributing Writers James E. Casto, Keith Morehouse, Lalena Price, Katherine Pyles, Shelly Ridgeway, Carter Seaton

16 CYBERSECURITY : The Institute for Cyber Security addresses threats on the local, national and international level.

20 ARMY ROTC : For more than 70 years the Army ROTC program has opened a world of possibilities to Marshall students.

­ ditorial Advisory Board E William “Tootie” Carter, Maurice Cooley, Larry Crum, Jeff O’Malley, Sheanna Spence, Susan Tams

24 DINING SERVICES : Thanks to a progressive dining program, mealtime for Marshall students has never been better.

Marshall Magazine is distributed three times a year by: Marshall University One John Marshall Drive Huntington, WV 25755

28 HEALTH CARE : The Minority Health Institute is working to reduce health disparities in the state of West Virginia.

32 MU FOUNDATION : The most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of the university soars past its $150 million goal.

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36 INTERCULTURAL CENTER : MU’s Intercultural Center will provide a haven for students from all walks of life to come together and connect.

everGreen

ADVERTISERS’ CONTACT: HQ Publishing Co. P.O. Box 384 Huntington, WV 25708 304-529-6158 mail@marshallmagazine.com For subscription information contact: MU Office of Alumni Relations at 304-696-3134 Comments or suggestions should be addressed to: magazine@marshall.edu

YOUR ALUMNI CONNECTION

41 Letter from Mikala Shremshock, MUAA President 42 Alumni Awards Banquet & Scholarship Honor Brunch 48 Chapter Alumni Report

Designed & Published by:

50 Class Notes 51 In Memoriam 52 Letter From MUAA

on the cover

Head Football Coach Charles Huff is ready for his second season at Marshall, one that includes a new conference and a bevy of new players. Photo by Rick Lee.

HQ Publishing Co. P.O. Box 384 Huntington, W.Va. 304-529-6158 www.hqpublishing.com © 2022 by Marshall University

p r e s i d e n t

Catching up with President Smith 1.

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1. President Smith welcomed Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin when she visited Marshall Jan. 19.

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2. During his first 100 days in office, President Smith conducted a number of “listening sessions” for students, faculty and staff. This one was conducted for students, both virtually and in person.

3. Welcoming U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito when she visited the Bill Noe Flight School April 19 were Flight School Director and Chief Instructor Bryan Branham, President Smith and Assistant Flight School Director Nancy Ritter.

4. President Smith added his thanks to the scholarship donors who attended the Marshall University Foundation Inc.’s traditional Scholarship Brunch April 9.

5. President Smith joined with other university officials in receiving a ceremonial check from the Dutch Miller Automotive Group for the new College of Business facility.

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HUFF'S

HERD

In his second season with the Thundering Herd, Coach Charles Huff is embracing change including a new son, a new conference and new players by way of the NCAA transfer portal.

By Keith Morehouse Photos by Rick Lee & Austin O’Connor

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t was the middle of March, and Coach Charles Huff was taking a well-timed break from poring over depth charts and scanning the NCAA transfer portal. He had to focus on his most important future prospect. This newcomer had measurables that any new parent could appreciate. Beau Barkley Huff was 21 ½ inches long and weighed 7.15 pounds when he was born on March 15, 2022. Huff’s wife, Jessica, and baby Beau were both healthy, and Dad couldn’t have been happier.

“My wife timed it perfectly,” Huff said with a smile.

“When we found out she was pregnant she asked me, ‘When’s spring ball, when’s spring break? I’ll handle the rest.’ Man, she’s a rock star!”

With the family expanding, it means a busier schedule for everyone in the Huff household. Beau’s older brother B.J. juggles school and sports. Jessica runs the show at home and coaches girls’ basketball at St. Joseph Central Catholic High School. Dexterity seems to be her strong suit.

“She’s been a coach and she knows how to manage,” Huff said of his wife’s ability to multitask. “She understands the grind of it. We’re able to manage our time and pick our spots. We say all the time our normal is not everybody’s normal. We enjoy it and make the best of it.”

Huff said the youngest member of the Thundering Herd will definitely come to know about the place where he was born.

“It’s something that my family will always cherish —­ that one of our children was born in Huntington,” Huff said. “Huntington and Marshall exemplify what it means to be part of a family. This is a tight-knit community.”

With Beau safe at home, Huff went back to work

Wide receiver Corey Gammage hauled in 78 catches last seaon.

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Running back Rasheen Ali led the nation in touchdowns in 2021.

getting the Herd ready for spring ball. In the not-toodistant future he and the Herd face road trips to Troy, Alabama; Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Statesboro, Georgia.

Welcome, Marshall, to Sun Belt Conference football.

“Those schools are a little bit ahead of us,” Huff explained. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have an opportunity to compete and to win games. It’s just that our margin of error is smaller.”

It’s Coach Huff’s second year at Marshall, and uppermost in his mind is improving on the Herd’s 7-6 record in 2021. He’s done some selfreflection and big-picture analysis on last year, and he readily admits he learned a lot in his rookie year as a Division I head coach.

“It’s not really that a play call on third down was the difference in a game last season,” Huff said. “It’s what didn’t we do well in the games we lost, and what did we do well in the games we won. You go back and look at the Middle Tennessee game, and it was taking care of the football. You go back and look at the ECU game, and it was being able to finish.”

Huff’s coaching journey from schools like Maryland, Mississippi State, Penn State and Alabama taught him that great teams find a way

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I think when you add competition to the room everybody’s performance level rises … which will make us a better team.” ­— Head Football Coach Charles Huff

to win. His time at Alabama with Nick Saban — who has seven national championship trophies in his den — made a big impact on him. Saban isn’t given to making excuses, and neither is Huff.

Ultimately, Marshall didn’t finish the year the way it wanted to. The Herd lost its final game 36-21 to new conference-mate Louisiana in the New Orleans Bowl. That was despite a dominant effort by defensive end Owen Porter. The former Spring Valley star had six tackles, including four tackles for loss and half a sack. Dwelling on that result, though, is not part of Porter’s offseason thought process.

“You just want a clean slate,” Porter said after the Green-White game. “You don’t want to harp on the past, because there are plenty of games that we can look back on and say we lost by a touchdown. We need to be focused on what we’re doing right now.”

Coach Huff went right to work to improve the 2022 Herd, jumping headfirst into the transfer portal — a new NCAA rule implemented on Aug. 1, 2021, that allows college athletes to transfer to another school without having to sit out a year.

“Either you adapt, or you die,” Huff said of the new rule. “No fan wants to hear about how young of a team we have, or how five years from now we’ll be really good.

Everyone wants success now.”

Marshall’s starting quarterback is still a question mark.

Texas Tech transfer Henry Colombi arrives this summer from Lubbock and joins a group that includes Cam Fancher, Peter Zamora and Chase Harrison in a crowded quarterback derby. The assumption is that Colombi will earn the job. But Division I football coaches don’t hand the keys of the offense over to you just because you come from a Power Five conference.

“Obviously, Henry’s got to come in, learn the system and be able to execute,” Huff said of his incoming transfer quarterback. “I think when you add competition to the room everybody’s performance level rises. So, Chase is going to get better, Pete’s going to get better, Cam’s going to get better, which will make us a better team.”

Whoever takes the snaps has the luxury of handing the ball off to No. 22 out of the backfield. Keeping star running back Rasheen Ali at Marshall, and out of the transfer portal, may have been Coach Huff’s best recruiting job in the offseason. Last season Ali ran for 1,401 yards and led the nation in rushing touchdowns with 23. The first team All-Conference USA running back will now be joined in the backfield by talented Florida State transfer Khalan Laborn.

“To be honest the sky’s the limit for us,” Laborn said after the spring game in which he ran for a 32-yard touchdown. “I feel like we can be really good if we put in the work.”

Defensive end Owen Porter is focused entering the 2022 season.

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Marshall needs to retool its offensive line after losing Alex Mollette and Will Ulmer. The receiving corps will be led by Corey Gammage (78 catches last season), Shadeed Ahmed, Jayden Harrison and Talik Keaton. It also adds another incoming FSU transfer in Bryan Robinson.

The Herd’s front seven on defense will be the strength on that side of the football. With Porter, Koby Cumberlander and three Power Five conference transfers coming in, the line should be solid. Eli Neal, Abraham Beauplan and Charlie Gray return at linebacker. The trio combined for 262 tackles last year.

The secondary will need to replace some talented safeties, but McNeese State transfer Andre Sam could step right in, and Steven Gilmore comes back as a steady cover corner.

Some pundits are high on the 2022 Thundering Herd.

College Football News came out with a bold prediction that Marshall will win the Sun Belt Conference in its first season. That’s some pretty heady stuff. With a new baby at home, and a move to a new conference on the horizon, a good night’s rest may be tough to come by for Coach Huff. But college football coaches keep crazy hours anyway. For Huff and his Herd, sleep might have to wait.

Keith Morehouse is a freelance writer and the sports director for WSAZ NewsChannel 3 in Huntington.

Defensive back Steven Gilmore will be a key cover corner in 2022.

Thundering Herd 2022 Football Schedule SEP 3 vs Norfolk State

Huntington, WV

SEP 10 at Notre Dame

South Bend, IN

SEP 17 at Bowling Green Bowling Green, OH SEP 24 at Troy

Troy, AL

OCT 1 vs Gardner-Webb

Huntington, WV

OCT 12 vs Louisiana

Huntington, WV

OCT 22 at James Madison

Harrisonburg, VA

OCT 29 vs Coastal Carolina Huntington, WV (Homecoming) NOV 5 at Old Dominion

Norfolk, VA

NOV 12 vs Appalachian State Huntington, WV

Eli Neal is part of a trio of linebackers who had 262 tackles in 2021.

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NOV 19 at Georgia Southern

Statesboro, GA

NOV 26 vs Georgia State

Huntington, WV

MARSHALL vs NOTRE DAME Sept. 10, 2022 | South Bend, Indiana

Tim DiPiero will utilize whatand produced seven Heisman go to college at Notre Dame, ever transportation is necesTrophy winners. The Irish aura where he walked on to the sary to get to South Bend, is all part of the home-field basketball team.

Indiana, on Sept. 10 — plane, advantage.

He’s seen plenty of football automobile, public transportaMarshall Coach Charles games at fabled Notre Dame tion or even Uber if necessary.

Huff has been to South Bend, Stadium and he’s still giddy Why? Well, the Huntington but never to a game at Notre over this matchup. How many native, Charleston attorney and Dame Stadium. He knows full people can hold close ties to Notre Dame graduate knows well it’s not just another regular two programs about which that on that day the Fighting Saturday road game. movies have been made? It’s Irish are meeting the “After all the emoThundering Herd for tions and the pagthe first time ever on eantry of playing at a the gridiron. It’s a day place like Notre Dame, many football fans you ultimately have to thought would never come back to executhappen. ing,” Huff said.

“My niece is Marshall’s players getting married in have a home opener Washington, D.C., the the week before, day before the game,” but don’t think for a DiPiero said. “My son minute they haven’t and I are planning to peeked ahead at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, seats 77,622 fans. fly out of Dulles Airport game two. on Saturday morning.

“We look at every I’m so excited we’re going to game as a challenge,” said ofWe Are Marshall versus Rudy, make this happen.” fensive lineman Logan Osburn. and DiPiero can’t wait.

Even though he is a Notre “It’s going to be their home “I’ll probably wear a Dame alumnus, DiPiero opener with a brand-new head Marshall shirt and a Notre also bleeds green. Growing coach (Marcus Freeman). What Dame hat,” he said. up in Huntington, he was a better opportunity to go in Notre Dame is much more Thundering Herd basketball there and give it our best? than the home of the golden fan and remembers watching Obviously, it’s a big game for dome and Touchdown Jesus.

Marshall Hall of Famers Hal Marshall. We’ve already started It’s also home to Knute Rockne, Greer and Leo Byrd playing watching film on them. We just the Four Horsemen, The Gipper at Veterans Memorial Field can’t wait for the opportunity.” and Joe Montana. Only four House. But, as a senior in For DiPiero, it’s a matchup Division I schools have won high school at St. Joseph he’s waited a lifetime to see. more football games than the Central Catholic High School, No wonder he’ll be in a hurry Fighting Irish. They’ve captured he also knew he wanted to to get to South Bend.

11 national championships

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The

AD

New Athletic Director Christian Spears has been described as a rock star, and that’s exactly what’s needed to fine-tune the school’s sports programs.

By Keith Morehouse Photo by Rick Lee

“

Christian Spears is a transformational leader who exhibits a deep respect for tradition, combined with an ability to architect a vision to unleash potential.” ­— President Brad D. Smith

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One of the main reasons Christian Spears accepted the position of athletic director at Marshall was his impression of the people he met. “I felt like the people here were different — every single person I’ve met is authentic and genuine,” he said. “They tell you exactly what they think.”

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ven from an early age, Marshall’s new Athletic Director Christian Spears knew he wanted a career in the sports world. He and his father were both avid fans of football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf — you name it. It also didn’t hurt that his father was a graduate of UCLA and moved the family to Pasadena, California, when Christian was young.

“As a kid I got to go to all the UCLA games in the Rose Bowl,” Spears recalled fondly. “I remem— Head Football Coach Charles Huff ber going to a couple of games there when Warren Moon (the future NFL Hall of Famer) was the quarterback at the University of Washington. Because my dad was fundraising results, including the highsuch an avid Bruins fan, I started to est number of donors and most cash root for the Huskies. At a young age received in program history. For the I started to understand that I could last five years Spears was the deputy tease my dad and my dad could tease athletic director at the University me. We had a playful banter.” of Pittsburgh, where he focused on Spears’ love for Washington only marketing and branding, media relagrew. He not only picked Washington tions, fundraising, ticket operations, as his favorite school but also evenlicensing, merchandising, game pretually played football there, as a selfsentation, broadcast services and professed “sixth-string tight end.” It multimedia rights. He took over the was there that Spears met his wife, Thundering Herd’s 16-sport, $30 milJulia; his mom told him it was a lion athletics program on March 14. sign that he made the right call to “Christian Spears is a transformaroot for the Huskies back in the tional leader who exhibits a deep reday. The couple would go on to have spect for tradition, combined with an three children: Rainer, Kai and Skyla. ability to architect a vision to unleash Spears graduated from the University potential,” said Marshall President of Washington in 1996 with a bachBrad D. Smith. “I look forward to elor’s degree in political science, then working with him to usher in the earned a master’s degree in public next chapter of greatness for athletics administration from California State at our university.”

University Long Beach in 1998 and his Spears said his reason for making juris doctor from Ohio State in 2002. the move to Marshall was simple: Spears’ career in athletics administhe people. tration began at Long Beach State in “I said no to opportunities over 1996. From there he went on to serve the last eight years, and then this in a variety of roles at such schools as job opened up,” Spears said. “The Southern Illinois, Northern Illinois, reason I jumped on it was because I Harvard and Eastern Michigan. He felt like the people here were differwas instrumental in helping Eastern ent — every single person I’ve met is Michigan produce record-breaking authentic and genuine. They tell you

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I think the guy’s a rock star. I think he is where college athletics is going with his vision.”

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exactly what they think. They’re not afraid to say it out loud.”

Spears has been in perpetual motion mode since his first trip to Marshall’s Huntington campus. It’s not as if he arrived at the dinner party with the meals already prepared and the table set in perfect order. There are many challenges to confront.

Marshall is changing conferences in July from Conference USA to the Sun Belt. There’s that decades-long promise of a baseball stadium that’s not yet been built. That stadium is at, or near the top of, his to-do list.

He met with stadium architects his first week on the job.

“There’s an opportunity to only miss two baseball seasons if we do this the right way,” Spears said. “I don’t want to miss more than three.

I told President Smith, ‘Let’s not have another groundbreaking, let’s have a ribbon-cutting.’”

His enthusiasm is infectious. He can command a room and engage a crowd in the same moment. He answers questions in a firm, frank manner. He has high expectations for the various sports at Marshall and for the coaches who run them.

“I’m not afraid or shy of telling Coach Huff, ‘Hey, let’s be the first team out of the Sun Belt to get into an expanded college football playoff.

Let’s make that our goal, Coach.’”

To reach such lofty goals, Spears knows that he and the administration must provide the necessary tools to help all Marshall coaches upgrade their respective programs.

“I think the guy’s a rock star, I really do,” said Head Football Coach Charles Huff about his new boss. “I think he is where college athletics is going with his vision. I told him about some of the things we need for the football program, and he already had them on his to-do list. It’s

a good feeling when the higher-ups recognize some of the same issues that are needed to make huge steps in the program.”

Spears had other pressing matters facing him his first few weeks on the job. Marshall’s basketball team finished 12-21 in the 2021-22 season.

He and Head Coach Dan D’Antoni met to discuss and agree upon a series of one-year contracts beginning this upcoming season.

“I want to develop a relationship with Coach D’Antoni,” Spears said.

“I will challenge the status quo, and I think he wants that to happen as well.”

Spears said he also wants to visit and take a critical look at all of Marshall’s athletic facilities. He’s already broached the idea of replacing the seats in the south end zone of Edwards Stadium with a party deck.

At Pitt last year he quickly learned that in these days of 60-inch televisions, YouTube and cell phones, you

better put on a good show to get fans in the stands.

“The football team at Pitt won 11 games last year; and even though we sold 55,000 tickets per game, there were times when 20,000 people didn’t show up,” Spears said. “That concerns me. There’s something going on with the game-day atmosphere that needs to improve. We need to make our fans feel like they are missing out on a great experience if they’re not in the stadium.”

In chasing his dream of becoming an athletic director, Spears has come all the way from Puget Sound to the Ohio River. Huntington is not Seattle, and Joan C. Edwards Stadium isn’t Husky Stadium — but that’s why he is where he is. A change of scenery has served him well.

Keith Morehouse is a freelance writer and the sports director at WSAZ.

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c y b e r s e c u r i t y

COMBATING CYBERTHREATS The Institute for Cyber Security addresses threats on the local, national and international level.

The Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security was formed in October 2021. Faculty and staff include, from left, Dr. Paulus Wahjudi; Bill Gardner; John Sammons, Cyber Forensics and Security chair; Dr. Husnu Narman, associate director; Josh Brunty; and Dr. David Dampier, director.

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The Institute for Cyber Security’s academic programs are very practitioner focused, with as much hands-on, skills-based experience as possible. Among other external agencies, the institute provides assistance to the West Virginia State Police’s southern digital forensics lab. Above: Jacob Hewitt, a graduate student, works under the direction of Josh Brunty. Below: Students log lots of computer time in their studies. From left are Jacob Hewitt; Alisha Joseph; Bill Gardner; Brittany Belcher, project manager; and John McFee, graduate student.

f you talk to the experts at the newly formed Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security, you’ll quickly learn that cybersecurity is more than a buzzword. It’s a critical issue that affects everyone in the world.

“Cybersecurity isn’t just a technology problem,” said John Sammons, chair of Marshall’s Department of Cyber Forensics and Security and director of the Cyber Forensics and Security graduate program.

“It’s a business problem and a political problem. It’s a public health problem and a national security problem. Technology has permeated every aspect of society — everything from medical care to banking, from buying a hamburger to getting gas.

We are totally dependent on it, which makes us extremely vulnerable. We see this problem playing out on the news nearly every evening.”

In October 2021, the Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security was created to address these concerns, bringing together hardware and software engineers, forensic scientists, cybersecurity practitioners and policy experts to take on emerging cyberthreats on the local, national and even international level.

The academic component of the ICS combines four degree programs and two colleges, the College of Science and the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, with support from the College of Business and others.

It’s already making an impact, said ICS Director Dr. David Dampier. The ICS has partnered with multiple government agencies and nonprofits, including Operation Underground Railroad, which fights child sex trafficking in the U.S. and abroad; the West Virginia Intelligence

By Katherine Pyles Photos by Rick Lee

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literally and figuratively.

Fusion Center, an anti“In the past, our cyterrorism agency; the bersecurity research was Department of Defense; managed in multiple and the Department of colleges by multiple deHomeland Security. partments. The Institute In March, the ICS anfor Cyber Security pronounced a partnership vides a mechanism for with the West Virginia those colleges and deNational Guard and cypartments to work tobersecurity firm Forge gether,” said Dampier, Security to provide “live who is also dean of the fire” cyber range training College of Engineering exercises for members of and Computer Sciences. the National Guard. The “We’re going to see a sigICS also provides assisnificant increase in the tance to the West Virginia amount of research we’re State Police’s southern able to do. We’re going to digital forensics lab.

— Chair John Sammons be able to take on much Dampier said while bigger projects.” many of Marshall’s cyDepartment of Cyber Forensics and Security The ICS has begun bersecurity initiatives partnerships with West were in place before the Virginia University, West institute was established, Virginia State University and Mountwest Community & what the ICS offers is a truly collaborative approach to Technical College, sharing capabilities and resources to have these increasingly complex issues. Housed in the Weisberg a greater impact in the cybersecurity realm. Dampier said Applied Engineering Complex, the ICS brings all of the partnerships with other universities are also in the works. university’s cybersecurity programs under one roof, both

Universities have a key role to play in cybersecurity, not only by providing graduates to address the workforce shortage but also by conducting research.”

Cybersafety Tips Cybersafety comes down to self-preservation and common sense, said ICS Director Dr. David Dampier.

“I liken it to walking in a dark alley at two in the morning,” Dampier said. “If someone comes up to you, it’s probably for a nefarious purpose. It’s the same online: if someone contacts you asking for information, you have to think about that from a victim’s perspective. My rule of thumb is this: If you contact me, I’m not giving you anything.”

For example, he said, if you get an e-mail from your bank with a link to log into your account, don’t click the link. Go to your bank’s website and log in that way. He added that if you or your business fall victim to a ransomware attack, don’t pay the ransom. Protecting your data from ransomware requires a proactive approach, not a reactive one.

“Ransomware attacks have become increasingly common,” he said. “When you pay ransomware attackers, there’s nothing stopping them from doing it to someone else — or to you again — in the future. The best thing you can do is back up your data proactively so that if a ransomware attack does happen, you’re protected.”

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For students, the ICS provides a fully integrated curriculum, with elective courses from multiple departments that will enrich their chosen field of study as well as hands-on experience that will make them workforce ready.

“Part of the ICS’s mission is to address the massive workforce shortage and skills gap in the cyber domain,” Sammons said. “Our academic programs are very practitioner focused, with as much hands-on, skills-based experience as possible.”

The institute is made up of five components: academics, research, external relations, training programs and public outreach. While academics and research are the seminal work of the institute, the other three areas will become increasingly important as the ICS continues to grow and recruit personnel. Plans include educational programs for area schools, training for law enforcement and cybersafety seminars for local businesses.

“It’s not just large corporations that are being targeted and breached,” Sammons said. “Local mom-and-pops are also breached at an alarming rate.”

Sammons said as cyberthreats become of greater and greater concern, universities play a vital role. He credited

Dr. Mike Little, former chair of the past Department of Integrated Science and Technology; Dr. Charles Somerville, dean of the College of Science; and Dr. Terry Fenger, founder and former director of the university’s graduate forensic science program for paving the way for Marshall’s leadership in the cyber arena. Sammons said their vision and support were invaluable to the university’s success to date.

“Universities have a key role to play in cybersecurity, not only by providing graduates to address the workforce shortage but also by conducting research, developing new technologies and working toward a better understanding of the science behind cybercrimes,” Sammons said.

“Cybersecurity is truly an ‘all hands on deck’ situation, and there are roles and responsibilities at all levels. This includes the individual user, government at all levels, law enforcement, private companies and the military and intelligence communities. The problem is simply too big for any single entity to solve alone.”

Katherine Pyles is a freelance writer and editor living in Huntington, West Virginia.

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army rotc

For more than 70 years the Army ROTC program has molded future leaders and opened a world of possibilities to students.

Possibilities

By Lalena Price 20

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commission from Marshall University in 1982 and largely credits his ROTC foundation for his success in life, which now includes a career with the Boeing Company as vice president for Army systems — defense, space and security government operations.

“I didn’t sign up thinking I’d try to be a three-star general,” Crutchfield said. “I signed up because college was taking a heavy financial toll on my parents. One day I was walking from Smith Hall to Twin Towers when I saw tables set up in the big field. Out of curiosity, I walked up to the one with the men in uniform. I signed up for a three-year scholarship. I had nothing to lose.”

Crutchfield entered the ROTC program where he found an extension of his father’s discipline and work ethic and his mother’s compassion.

“I still tuck the loops of shoestrings into my boots,” Crutchfield said. “I fondly remember all my instructors. They really cared about us and put us on a path to success.

When you have superior mentorship and leadership to look up to, how can you not be successful?”

His path meant 35 years in the Army that culminated in a threestar rank.

“A three-star rank is like getting struck by lightning,” Crutchfield said. “I’m very proud of my rank.

It’s rare but possible.”

Possibility. That’s something he believes ROTC students at Marshall will tap into when they enter the program and earn their commission.

It has worked for him and several other high-ranking Army officers, including two three-star generals, major generals and brigadier generals.

“This program can transform people and open up a world to them that they might otherwise not get to experience,” Crutchfield said. “I’ve lived all around the world — Germany, Japan, Korea and 22 countries in Asia. I would never have been able to do that for myself and my family without the Army.”

Crutchfield remains connected to Marshall by serving on a few of its boards, and when he returns to speak to ROTC cadets, his advice is this: “Work hard. Be kind and show compassion. Help people.

PHOTO BY RICK LEE

he year was 1951, and Marshall University was still Marshall College. That’s when the school was selected by the Department of the Army to participate in the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. The original offices were housed in the Old Main Annex but a decade later were moved to the present location in Gullickson Hall. For more than seven decades the program has helped hardworking students pay for their education and has produced a number of successful leaders in the United States military.

Today, there are 30 cadets in Marshall’s ROTC program, which boasts a refreshed space in Gullickson Hall.

“They come to ROTC because they want to be leaders,” said Lt. Col. Bret M. Bemis, professor of military science. “They learn to lead when in charge and follow when they aren’t.”

Bemis said he marvels at the diversity of backgrounds and majors of the students in ROTC. These young men and women carry impressive academic and extracurricular loads such as molecular biology, criminal justice and cybersecurity, which is trending among cadets. Studentathletes participate, too.

“We have a football player on scholarship and a soccer player who is headed to West Point,” Bemis noted.

Kelli Brewer, recruiting operations officer at Marshall, explained that today’s Army is not just what you see on television or in movies.

“It’s an actual career, and you can still have a life and still have fun,” Brewer said. “It’s not just infantries and guns a-blazing. In fact, 80% of the people in the military fill a support role. Small-statured females have a place in the military as do liberal arts and science majors, doctors, lawyers and engineers.”

Retired United States Army Lt. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield earned his

Maj. Danny Thornhill (left) and Lt. Col. Bret Bemis are not only military officers but also faculty members in military science at Marshall.

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Lt. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield, a former ROTC participant at Marshall, received the 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Respect each other’s opinions even if you disagree.”

Cadet Beth Stepp of Ripley, West Virginia, was commissioned as an Aviation 2nd Lieutenant on April 29, 2022, and graduated with an M.S. in biology the next day. This summer she will head to Fort Rucker, Alabama, for her Basic Officer Leadership Course and flight school.

She described the ROTC program as a “crash course in leadership.” Stepp saw the program as a way to grow as a person and serve her country.

“ROTC emphasizes teamwork.

Iron sharpens iron, and I’ve had the privilege of studying with some extremely sharp cadets who have helped me immensely,” Stepp said.

“We’ve been through a lot together, like cleaning weapons from 06:0014:00, jumping into the pool from the high dive while blindfolded and holding a fake rifle, and shooting at each other with paintballs in the middle of the night. I’ve loved watching new cadets join, seeing their potential from the start and watching them grow to become incredibly strong leaders.”

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Stepp said her college experience before and after joining ROTC is like night and day.

“Most people in ROTC describe me as bubbly and talkative, but I was extremely shy before I joined,” Stepp recalled.

“It’s changed my personal life and career trajectory because it helped me become so much more confident in myself as a person and a leader.”

Corey Littreal, PFC Army National Guard, is a freshman biology major from Fayetteville, West Virginia. He was encouraged by an uncle to consider ROTC when he was just in middle school. Just one year into the program, Littreal says ROTC’s emphasis on integrity is a real driver for him.

“Integrity, doing the right thing even when no one is watching, is not easy but it distinguishes the good from the great,” Littreal said.

An ROTC scholarship lifted a financial burden from Littreal, saving him from seeking financial aid.

It’s also eased that freshman-year awkwardness.

“It’s been a great way to get out of my room and meet people, including a brigadier general who came to campus to speak,” he said.

Littreal aspires to eventually apply for the Interservice Physician Assistant Program, a two-year program in the Army to become a physician assistant.

Because of the pandemic, recruiting for ROTC has been a challenge.

As such, Brewer said she focuses on being flexible and making adjustments for students.

“Before I try to sell anything, I want to know what the student wants out of it. It’s a very personalized approach,” said Brewer, explaining that she likes to sit down with students and parents in Gullickson

“

This program can transform people and open up a world to them that they might otherwise not get to experience.”

— Ret. Lt. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield U.S. Army

Hall while she details everything on a white board.

The ROTC program recently received a $30,000 grant from Enterprise through the Marshall University Foundation for a longoverdue refresh of their offices.

“Now we have a place we can be proud of to meet with students and parents,” said Brewer, who has been with the program for 17 years.

“I’ve met so many alumni through the years who give back.”

So, Brewer wasn’t surprised to learn that one of them, a retired three-star general, is on standby to help her recruit.

“The job market is so competitive right now, and we can’t expect students to stumble across a table like I did,” Crutchfield said. “Recruiting is a challenge nationwide, but I love the potential I see at Marshall. The people in the Huntington region have such a great propensity to serve their country.”

Lalena Price is a freelance writer living in Kenna, West Virginia.

dining services

Feeding the Herd Thanks to a progressive and award-winning dining program, mealtime for Marshall students has never been better.

By Lalena Price Photos by Rick Lee

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he dining experience on Marshall University’s Huntington campus is likely to be unrecognizable to all but its most recent graduates. Today’s students expect high-quality food with customizable options. They want to choose, and they don’t mind waiting.

“There’s no herding them through a line,” said Mark Arnold, general manager of Marshall Dining by Sodexo.

“Look, Burger King has been telling us to have it ‘our way’ for 30 years. That wasn’t always the case in residential dining, but we’re looking at it differently now.”

Marshall Dining by Sodexo powers all of the dining options on campus, offering 12 locations with an impressive variety of fare, from fast food to local favorites, in spaces ranging from large dining halls to quaint coffee shops.

Their team members do it with concern for sustainability, recruitment, retention and continual improvement. They’re committed to listening to the students they serve through surveys and social media platforms such as @marshalldining.

“At the end of the day, people want to be heard,” Arnold said. “And we’re listening.”

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A state-of-the art facility, Harless Dining Hall is filled with natural light and offers seating for 340.

Mark Arnold is the general manager of Marshall Dining by Sodexo.

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When students seek comfort food, they can head over to Harless Dining Hall. If they crave a diner vibe, they can walk over to Twin Towers and hit The Den by Denny’s or Mein Bowl Asian Market, or grab something to go from the 1837 Fresh Food Market. And, if nothing satisfies like Italian fare, local favorite La Famiglia is located in the Memorial Student Center along with popular on-thego options like Steak ‘n Shake, Chick-fil-A, Huntington Market and an expanded Starbucks for the perfect cup of coffee. Upstairs, the John Marshall Dining Room is the place for a midday buffet. Bonus: you can reserve a table.

Drinko Coffee Shop gives yet another place to caffeinate and grab a snack, soup, sandwich or even a freshly prepared hot dog.

“There are certainly a lot of dining options for a university Marshall’s size,” Arnold said. “It’s a great mix of national and local brands.”

Alas, as much as students praise that kind of variety, they are creatures of habit. Chef Josie Wallace said most students gravitate toward what they love, and these days that includes hamburgers, pizza and quesadillas, as well as her chicken alfredo and pickle-fried chicken.

“They love when we have breakfast for dinner, too,” Wallace said. She and her team stay busy at Harless, cooking more than 800 hamburgers and 2,000 pizzas every week.

Also in high demand is the chicken sandwich. Whether it’s Harless, The Den or Chick-fil-A, her team is on track to serve 150,000 of those crowd pleasers this year.

“And should the students ever get tired of chicken sandwiches, then we are ready to adapt,” said Kevin Madson, Marshall Dining operations manager. “We crave feedback.

We engage on social media, meet biweekly with a student advisory board and hire interns in marketing. Our team will huddle, plan and adapt. If the students want Swiss cheese added to the options at Harless Dining Hall, it’s no problem. We just tell them, ‘Sure, check back tomorrow.’”

But change isn’t always that easy. Recently, the team got a little help from the iCenter at the Lewis College of Business to solve a problem — students found it challenging to select the perfect-sized meal plan. They didn’t want to waste food, but they didn’t want to run out of meals either. Working with the iCenter, they designed a process called the “meal plan picker” that asks lifestyle and scheduling questions to help students decide what plan

There are 12 dining locations on the Huntington campus, from large dining halls to quaint coffee shops, offering everything from fast food to local favorites. Marco’s Deli is part of the 1837 Fresh Food Market located within Tower’s Marketplace.

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is best for them. iCenthe team had received ter director Dr. Ben Eng gold status — not an easy helped facilitate the profeat considering the comcess. “We experimented plexities of the Simple with several versions and Servings program to keep improved each until stustudents safe. dents loved it,” Eng said.

“That’s unheard of,” “The meal plan picker Arnold said. Next up, will launch in the fall.” they will apply to be recM a r sh a l l i s n’t ognized by FARE (Food Hogwarts. Food doesn’t Allergy Research and just appear on tables. It Education Corp.), the takes a special recipe of go-to resource for families full- and part-time emnavigating food allergies. ployees to make culinary Food ser v ice at — General Manager Mark Arnold magic. Sodexo USA has Marshall ’s level can Marshall Dining by Sodexo been a contractor for the leave an enormous enuniversity for 34 years. It vironmental footprint. handles all campus food The team works with the service and employs 150 people — one-quarter of them are Marshall Sustainability Department to promote initiatives students. Beyond daily meal service, those employees do like trayless dining to save water, energy and waste, and all the big events like Week of Welcome picnics, athletthe “skip the straw” campaign to reduce single-use plastic. ics concessions and catering for meetings, banquets and The university also has partnerships with local farmers conferences. Although that sounds like a lot of cooks for food and composting. Coming soon, Marshall’s waste in the kitchen, everyone has a specific mission, such as digester will turn all pre- and post-consumer food waste strategizing how to make it through a global pandemic into compost, eliminating tons of garbage and materials while safely serving students. from going to a landfill.

Shortly after a $5 million renovation of the Memorial Sustainability is also about communities. During the Student Center that created refreshed space for on-thepandemic, unused food nearing expiration was donated go options, the global pandemic struck. Yet food service to the Huntington Fire Department. During normal busito students never faltered, even during the lockdown. A ness, excess catered food is wrapped, frozen and picked up rudimentary online ordering system served those remainby volunteers for those facing food insecurity. Leftovers ing on campus. As the pandemic evolved and students are appreciated by families at the Huntington Ronald returned, the system got a little flashier, and despite outMcDonald House. Recently, Marshall was awarded a side forces like supply chain and labor issues, the team $1,000 grant from Sodexo for its food pantry. remained committed to variety and safety.

“That’s one of the things that makes Marshall special,” “We never reduced quality,” Madson asserted. said Arnold, who has been at the university for roughly Feeding the Herd well is one thing. Keeping mealtime a year. “Whether you work here, are a student here or safe for those with food sensitivities and life-threatening are a Huntington resident, you just feel like part of this allergies is another. Arnold personally meets with those larger community. It’s amazing. It just makes you want students. They learn about Simple Servings, a special to do more good deeds.” food station in Harless Dining Hall that offers options prepared without eight of the top-known food allergens.

Lalena Price is a freelance writer living in Kenna, West Marshall Dining’s efforts in this area have not gone unVirginia. She earned her B.A. in journalism and her Executive noticed. Last fall Marshall was awarded bronze status by M.B.A. from Marshall University.

Sodexo’s internal auditing team. By the spring of 2022,

There are certainly a lot of dining options for a university Marshall’s size.

It’s a great mix of national and local brands.”

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h e a l t h

c a r e

Minority Health Institute The Marshall MHI works to reduce health disparities for the underserved in West Virginia.

By Shelly Ridgeway

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PHOTO BY RICK LEE

The MHI staff work to improve and protect the health and well-being of racial and ethnic minorities. From left are Vanessa Alagah, health education specialist; Dr. Anthony Woart, founder and director; LaDawna E. Walker-Dean, minority health coordinator; and Jonathan Lung, program staff member.

W

hen Dr. Anthony Woart founded the Minority Health Institute (MHI) while a sociology professor at Bluefield State College in the early 2000s, he had one goal in mind: understand the extent of health

disparities in West Virginia, particularly the rate of breast cancer among African American women compared to their white counterparts. He would spend 20 years at Bluefield State College before joining Marshall University.

Born and raised in the West African nation of Liberia, Woart earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Liberia’s College of Agriculture and Forestry. He then came to the United States to attend Jackson State University in

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Mississippi, where he earned two master’s degrees in business administration and sociology. After that, he enrolled in a doctoral program at Boston University, where he earned a Ph.D., specializing in medical sociology with a subspecialty in complex organizations.

Today, as professor and chair of Marshall’s Department of Public Health in the College of Health Professions, Woart continues the work he launched with the MHI two decades ago. It began with a 2003 research project to examine the demographics of students who attended Bluefield State, a historically Black college. As a result of the project, Woart uncovered startling facts that set him on a course of health-equity discovery in the Mountain State.

“I learned that not only was the rate of breast cancer among African American women disproportionately higher compared to their white counterparts in West Virginia, but they also received a late diagnosis,” Woart recalled.

For his research, he considered specific social determinants such as age, household income, frequency of mammograms and breast selfexams and family history of breast cancer, to name a few. After sharing his findings with the National Institutes of Health, he secured a $1 million grant to further his research for a second year.

In 2018 he was named chair of the Department of Public Health in the College of Health Professions at Marshall. In Huntington Woart found a new home to align the work

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For me, the most important aspect of the job is to help be the voice of the minorities and underserved populations in West Virginia.”

— LaDawna Walker-Dean West Virginia Minority Health Initiative

being done at the MHI with both public health and academics. The mission of the collaborative effort is to address health disparities and health equity among West Virginia’s minority and underserved populations.

The staff for the MHI currently occupies four office spaces within the university’s Department of Public Health. An integral part of Woart’s team is LaDawna Walker-Dean, coordinator for the West Virginia Minority Health Initiative. She has been involved in several health advocacy initiatives and community

education projects over the past four years, including COVID-19 vaccination education awareness projects.

As an African American woman and Huntington native, the mission of the MHI is very personal to her.

“It is especially important to achieve health equity and reduce the burdens of health disparities among the minority and underserved populations, as well as to strengthen and improve access to health care through education, resource development, research and community partnerships,” WalkerDean noted.

Although the MHI is funded entirely through various grants, it also collaborates with government entities, policymakers, health care providers and other supporters through partnerships, including the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health, UNICARE Health Plan of West Virginia and the CabellHuntington Health Department.

All of these entities work together to raise funds to support work at the institute.

As one of the poorest states in the country, West Virginia has a median household income of $46,000. This affects a family’s economic stability and undoubtedly impacts the overall health of those who are most vulnerable. In every category representing the most common chronic diseases among West Virginians — heart disease, diabetes and hypertension — African Americans are disproportionately impacted.

“Although the total population of African Americans stands at 3.6%

among the state’s 1.7 million people, the number of those residents with diabetes is alarming,” Woart said.

“Nearly 6.7% of African Americans in West Virginia have diabetes, which is disproportionately higher than any other racial category of the same population.”

An important aspect of the MHI’s work involves research and data that are often aggregated and shared with other health agencies, policymakers and government institutions, including the National Institutes of Health. Secondary data from sources like the Centers for Disease Control are also shared with policymakers.

The ongoing pandemic crisis has not only amplified the health care needs among minority and underserved populations, but also exposed the health disparities that exist among those populations.

“In order to make informed decisions around strategy, funding and allocation of resources, it is imperative that we focus on key issues and share what we learn with others,” Woart said.

Early in the pandemic crisis, there was unambiguous evidence that those most vulnerable to COVID-19 include African Americans and underserved populations who often have limited access to quality health care, adequate housing and well-paying jobs. “What once may have gone unnoticed by health care professionals and government officials has now been brought into the light and we cannot ignore it. A healthy society is one in which we all have access to quality health care,” said Woart.

To ensure the long-term success of the MHI, Woart said it is imperative that additional funding support comes from the state level.

“We have prioritized the Minority Health Profile to assist policymakers in understanding the plight of minorities in West Virginia. My hope is that the Legislature will create a line-item budget item to address minority health issues and support the work of the MHI, so that we have dedicated resources that we can count on from year to year.”

In addition, Woart wants to explore ways the MHI can officially become a part of Marshall’s nontraditional institutionalized programs.

“It’s important for the institute to be strategically aligned

and integrated into the Marshall University system as a fully functioning organization, so that we have a more seamless partnership,” Woart explained.

For LaDawna Walker-Dean, the impact of the work she is doing at the MHI is extremely rewarding.

“What we are accomplishing at MHI keeps me engaged and ready to roll up my sleeves every day,” she said. “For me, the most important aspect of the job is to help be the voice of the minorities and underserved populations in West Virginia.”

Shelly Ridgeway is a freelance writer living in Huntington, West Virginia.

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m u

f o u n d a t i o n

Marshall University Foundation CEO and Senior Vice President of Development Ron Area (front center) and the MU Foundation staff are committed to the continuing development of Marshall University by creating a culture of philanthropy, volunteer leadership and exemplary fiduciary responsibility.

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arshall Rises, Marshall University’s most ambitious fundraising campaign ever, has proven to be a spectacular success, easily surpassing its $150 million goal.

“The success of the Marshall Rises campaign is a testament to the love Marshall’s family and friends have for this storied institution,” said Marshall President Brad D. Smith. “Ron Area and his team at the Marshall Foundation have done a superb job communicating with our supporters and partners.

The future is indeed bright for Marshall University.”

“Over the last 10 years we have put the pieces in place that have allowed us to be successful with the Marshall Rises campaign.

In addition, we have also set the stage for future fundraising success,” said Dr. Ron Area, chief executive officer and senior vice president for development of the Marshall University Foundation Inc.

By James E. Casto Photo by Rick Lee

RISES

Marshall University’s most ambitious fundraising campaign soars past its $150 million goal.

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“

The success of the Marshall Rises campaign is a testament to the love Marshall’s family and friends have for this storied institution.”

— President Brad D. Smith

Thanks to the success of the Marshall Rises campaign, Area said the university is able to invest heavily in the future of the school, from renovating current buildings and constructing new ones to investing in students by offering more scholarships and rewarding faculty by providing them the chance to conduct further research.

In announcing the Marshall Rises comprehensive campaign in July 2016, then-President Jerome A. Gilbert said: “We are working closely with our alumni and friends to ensure Marshall rises to the next level for the betterment of our students, faculty, staff, region and state. We are relying on our alumni and friends who support the work of Marshall University to lead us further than we’ve ever gone before.”

The campaign team then launched what it labeled the “quiet phase” of the campaign in July 2016. Area explained that the following years produced an unprecedented level of giving, measured in both the number of donors and the dollars given.

At the Homecoming football game on Oct. 26, 2019, Gilbert revealed that the quiet phase had garnered more than $100 million and the university was readying an allout public effort to raise the final $50 million.

That effort didn’t take long.

“The campaign topped its $150 million goal in May 2020,” Area said. “But we didn’t stop there and continued to bring in gifts and pledges at a record pace. By April of this year, the total raised stood at $175 million and is expected to edge even higher before a final campaign celebration planned for Aug. 26, 2022.”

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“For us to exceed the campaign’s $150 million goal in such a short time is most remarkable,” said Sharon Shaffer, chair of the foundation board.

Some statistics dramatically detail the campaign’s success: • The campaign generated more than 50,000 gifts and pledges; one-third of those who gave were first-time donors.

• More than 50% of the major givers who donated $25,000 or more were first-time major donors.

• Today Marshall has 2,000 major donor relationships. That’s 10 times the major relationships it had just 10 years ago.

• The campaign generated more than 100 gifts of six figures and up.

• Campaign giving from Marshall faculty and staff nearly doubled, with a large percentage of the new donors opting for giving via payroll deduction.

Today more than 500 additional students are receiving scholarship aid than were receiving aid prior to the campaign. In addition, Marshall’s endowment has increased from $110 million to $203 million.

“Momentum for the campaign was great, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit,” Area explained. “But during the COVID shutdown we reached out to donors, which made an impact during a very challenging time. We found that donors were interested in supporting emergency priorities such as the food pantry, students in need and general scholarships. Relationships were created, and donors appreciated the interactions. It was gratifying not to lose momentum in the time frame.”

Area said a key factor in the campaign’s success was the involvement of Jerold Panas, Linzy & Partners, a Chicago-based professional fundraising firm. He praised Rick Bragga, a senior consultant with the firm, who worked closely with the Marshall team.

“Rick helped us stay focused,” Area said.

“Working with Ron and his team has been one of the top two or three experiences of my consulting career,” Bragga said. “They are professional, smart, flexible, committed and passionate about Marshall University. As a result, the campaign has been extremely successful, both in dollars raised and in the non-financial objectives such as culture change, integration and promotion.”

James E. Casto is the retired associate editor of The Herald-Dispatch and the author of a number of books on local and regional history.

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i n t e r c u l t u r a l

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Maurice Cooley, vice president of intercultural and student affairs, and Shaunte Polk, director of intercultural and international students, want people to know the new Intercultural Center is for everyone on campus and not just for specific groups.

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to Marshall’s new Intercultural Center will provide a haven for students from all walks of life to come together and connect.

By Carter Seaton Photos by Rick Lee and Austin O’Connor

W

hen Maurice Cooley was a student at Marshall in the 1960s, he said the only place he and other Black students had to gather and meet new people was a bench next to the maple tree in front of Hodges Hall.

But for Cooley, Marshall’s vice president of intercultural and student affairs, something he could never have imagined back then has come to fruition: an Intercultural Center.

It’s a rewarding achievement for the university administrator who will be retiring this summer.

“My hope is that all of our students will come together in this newly

designed space to build bridges and relationships with people from all walks of life,” Cooley said. “There, they will be influenced by others, learn from others and walk the pathway towards leadership in a globally rich society. Marshall grads will become messengers and guardians toward a socially and racially inclusive world in which we live and work with others.”

The concept of interculturalism has evolved over time in both the broader world and at Marshall.

When the office was first created on campus it was called Multicultural Affairs. Then, eight years ago when

he was named associate vice president of that office, Cooley suggested the name be changed to the Office of Intercultural Affairs.

“Multiculturalism is designed for people from all cultures to learn about our differences, including your ethics, your customs and your worries,” Cooley explained.

“Interculturalism is when people come together to grow and learn and influence each other. Therefore, multiculturalism is built inside of the movement of interculturalism.”

You can see that evolution at Marshall through the spaces each group has occupied over the years.

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“

My hope is that all of our students will come together in this newly designed space to build bridges and relationships with people from all walks of life.”

— Vice President Maurice Cooley Intercultural and Student Affairs

First there was one room in the Memorial Student Center that served as the Center for African American Students. Eventually it served all minority student groups.

Then a space for LGBTQ+ students was added in the basement. Today, Cooley said, Marshall has some 200 clubs representing student organizations from all over the world. As such, a much larger place to gather was desperately needed.

Now, the Intercultural Center will house them all. Located on campus in the East Hall, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, and meetings can be scheduled on weekends.

While the building encompasses about 6,000 square feet, not all of it is occupied by the Intercultural Center. It shares the first floor with Marshall’s Center for Student Success, and a large space on the lower floor houses the English Language Institute.

The Intercultural Center’s spaces include beautifully appointed meeting, learning and lounging rooms for the Center for African American Students, the LGBTQ+ office and the Office of International Student

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Services. Each room is appropriately decorated with graphic wall designs

by Paris Signs. Wall computers connect to table stations for student meetings. The computer lab holds

eight computers, which students can use free of charge. The World Learning and Resource Center holds a library full of books and movies on diverse cultures and can seat up to 30 for larger meetings. Downstairs is the prayer and meditation room and the World Boutique, which offers clothing, shoes and toiletries for all students.

“The prayer and meditation room is the most used space in the building,” said Shaunte Polk, director of Intercultural and International Students. “It’s important to note that this center is for everyone on campus, and not just for specific groups. For example, our new World Café is where the entire university population is encouraged to come to have snacks or lunch while meeting and learning from the broadly diverse student body at Marshall.”

The Intercultural Center’s spaces include beautifully appointed meeting, learning and lounging rooms. Each is appropriately decorated with graphic wall designs by Paris Signs.

Polk described the International Center as a “one-stop shop” for diversity experiences.

“We plan to host programs and events that are going to be centered here instead of different locations around campus,” Polk explained.

“We recently celebrated Chinese New Year here. We had students from different backgrounds come and support this amazing event.

It was wonderful to see them all gathered here.”

Polk said she believes that part of the success of the center will rest with its neighbors. The Center for Student Success brings in students from all across campus, including many who may not have any other reason to interact with the diverse students the center will draw.

Cooley agrees.

“I think it turned out nicely that we didn’t occupy the whole building,” Cooley noted. “The students who are a part of the English Language Institute and the Center for Student Success are also in the same environment as the Intercultural Center. The

Intercultural Center students will invariably learn about these programs. Eventually the center will

A ribbon-cutting ceremony held April 12, 2022, served as the official opening of the Intercultural Center, which promotes inclusion and cultural understanding.

influence how different groups of students come together, socialize and learn about each other in a beautifully designed setting.”

When that happens, Cooley said he will feel his mission has been accomplished.

“The majority of young people at Marshall are not minorities or international students,” he explained.

“But the role of a university is to prepare students from all walks of life for the future, and that involves exposing them to as many learning and socialization opportunities as possible. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of many exciting developments at this university, and I think this center is probably the best because it will have the greatest impact.”

Carter Seaton is an author and freelance writer living in Huntington.

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! e t a D e Save th

HOMECOMING Marshall vs Coastal Carolina

Learn more and register for events at HerdAlum.com

Nominate a #HerdAlum

FEATURING Alumni Tailgate • Stampede 5K Picnic on the Plaza Homecoming Parade and Bonfire and much more!

Awards include: Distinguished Alumni, Distinguished Service to Marshall University, Outstanding Community Achievement, Distinguished Young Alumni and more.

HerdAlum.com/Nominations

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Submit an online nomination today to recommend an outstanding member of the Marshall University family for an alumni award.

for an award today!

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OCTOBER

everGreen

everGreen

YOUR ALUMNI CONNECTION

REMSHOCK

ALA SH A MESSAGE FROM MIK MUAA National President Greetings, Fellow Alumni!

g this from a cabin in mer! Whether you are readin sum ng oyi enj and y lth hea n or your kitchen table I hope this letter finds you en route to a distant locatio ne pla a ch, bea the on ir the mountains, a lounge cha and healthy. ns, we hope you are happy dreaming of those destinatio on your behalf. ectors are still hard at work Dir of ard Bo and ff sta i first in-person ng summer break, the alumn ther wonderful event with the While we may be approachi In April, we celebrated ano ized the acogn rec n This night of celebratio Awards Banquet since 2019. y leaders. nit mu g students, alumni and com complishments of some amazin the first for ll Ha Brad D. Smith Foundation The dinner was hosted in the m the fro g hearin the social hour, dinner and time, and everyone enjoyed ing eth other back of my closet to find som awardees. I had to dig to the d up pretty well! to wear, but I think we cleane than sweatpants and Crocs rd members come a new collection of boa This summer we officially wel ining and tra s, ion uct is weekend of introd during our July meeting. Th This will r. yea ing e our agenda for the com meetings is a time to prepar a few ion act o , so I’m motivated to put int and be my final year as president ff sta i mn the alu le without the hard work of sib pos be uld wo s thi of ne rd Alum family. No more ideas to benefit our He please reach out! erested in getting involved, int ’re you If . ors ect Dir of Board and in the hout the Huntington campus oug thr ing pen hap g lin ode t the buildings and plenty of rem fly to the area, be sure to visi There have been many new back to campus soon! If you e com t, to por nce Air cha ger a e Yea hav n’s l sto t you wil of Charle Huntington area. I hope tha Wing program is based out ed Fix t: at Pilo ms ial gra erc pro se mm the Co ow grams. The -State Airport. You can foll new Marshall Aviation pro is housed at Huntington Tri m gra pro eer for yourself. h car Tec d on nce sec ena a int er dents, or consid stu and the Aviation Ma sted ere int r refe to e sur social media. Be marshall.edu/aviation or on a new conference. king for ward to fall sports and loo all ’re We e! her be l wil your local alumni months Homecoming ke it, be sure to reach out to ma to e Additionally, in a few short abl un are you if erson celebration, but We’re planning for a fully in-p nts that support Marshall. g parties and other social eve hin atc e-w gam h wit age eng chapter to ate HerdAlum.com for an up-to-d ts at @MarshallUAlumni and oun acc dia me ial soc i mn h the alu Be sure to stay connected wit listing of events.

Huntington soon! Go Herd! y. I hope to see you again in rsit ive Un all rsh Ma of t por Thank you for your sup Mikala Shremshock iversity Alumni Association President, Marshall Un

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awards & honors

Awards& Honors

Well Deserved The 2022 Scholarship Honor Brunch and 83rd Annual Alumni Awards Banquet were hosted April 9, 2022.

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hough the school year was coming to a close, Marshall University saw a burst of energy April 9 as the Marshall University Foundation and Office of Alumni Relations hosted two major events.

Nearly 400 students and donors met in the Don Morris Room of the Memorial Student Center as scholarship recipients mingled with their donors during the 2022 Scholarship Honor Brunch. Back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Scholarship Honor Brunch attendees heard from Senior Airman Richard Tettey Tei-Wayo, who was the featured speaker, and President Brad D. Smith, as well as a special performance by 3rd Avenue, Marshall’s a cappella ensemble. Most importantly, scholarship recipients had the opportunity to express their gratitude to their donors for the impact their generosity has on them.

Also returning after a pandemic-induced hiatus was the long-anticipated Alumni Association’s 83rd Annual Alumni Awards Banquet. The Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall bustled with activity as nearly 200 alumni, deans and other Marshall supporters gathered to honor remarkable members of the Marshall family, who included Jeff McKay, Cathy Burns, William Joseph Kehoe, Alys Smith and President Brad D. Smith.

Also honored were alumni from each of Marshall’s colleges and scholarship recipients.

While spring may be a season of renewal, the events on April 9 brought reflection to Marshall’s students, donors and alumni as we celebrated our past, present and future.

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everGreen everGreen ever Green Distinguished Alumnus ­— Brad D. Smith

co-founded the Wing 2 Wing Foundation with his wife, As a proud West Virginian with a passion for leadAlys. In January, Brad D. Smith was named the 38th ership and philanthropy, Brad D. Smith is focused on president of Marshall University. helping facilitate change by developing, supporting and investing in people. His devotion to giving back to his Distinguished Service to Marshall home state runs deep, and he is committed to providing University — Alys Smith educational and economic development resources to the Alys Smith is a successful attorney, generous philanAppalachian region. thropist, supportive wife and lovDuring Smith’s 11-year tenure ing mother. All who meet her can as CEO of Intuit, he was able to attest to her down-to-earth nature, transform the company’s business compassionate heart and indomistructure from a North American table passion for fighting to give a desktop software company to a voice to the voiceless. global, cloud-based platform with a Specifically, she has fought portfolio that included TurboTax, for the rights of women since she QuickBooks and Mint. The transherself was a little girl, beginning formation was born from an innowith protesting her inability to join vation culture built around datathe boys’ Little League on the basis driven decision-making and rapid of her gender and more recently experimentation. The drive to inworking to bring the Women’s novate across all layers of the comWarrior Summit to the strong Kasey Stevens with Brad D. Smith. pany transformed the way Intuit women of Appalachia. was able to serve its consumers, Alys Smith graduated from The small businesses and partners. This led to record growth Ohio State University and subsequently the University of that nearly doubled the company’s revenues, increased its Akron School of Law, believing that her dreams and passtock price more than 500% and sions would make a true impact in positioned Intuit as the industry the world. Whether passionately deleader. fending a client in court, mediating Under his leadership, the comconflicts, sharing her creative ideas pany consistently was recognized on women-led nonprofit boards, as one of the world’s best places to teaching her daughters what it work. Intuit placed on the Fortune means to be smart and competent Best Companies to Work For list women or mentoring at-risk youth as each year during his tenure, ranking a Court Appointed Special Advocate No. 13 in the United States and No. (CASA), her zest for life and vision 1 in India, Singapore and Canada of making this world a brighter place in 2017. In 2016, Smith was ranked shine through every time. among the top CEOs in the United Currently, she serves on the States by Fortune’s magazine, coming board of the New Opportunity in at No. 6 on their list.

School for Women, which chalKasey Stevens and Alys Smith.

Before his time at Intuit, Smith’s lenges Appalachian women to live career spanned four industries, including stints at PepsiCo, their best lives, and co-leads the Wing 2 Wing Foundation 7-UP, ADVO and ADP, where he led large, global orgawith her husband, Brad D. Smith. Wing 2 Wing focuses nizations through turnaround, transformation and highon creating opportunities for those in overlooked ZIP growth environments. He earned his bachelor’s degree in codes, particularly West Virginia and Ohio, and was business administration from Marshall University and his inspired by her and her husband’s childhood roots in master’s degree in management from Aquinas College in those two states. Alys and Brad Smith have recently left Grand Rapids, Michigan. their home in California, where they resided for almost He has served as the executive chairman of the board 20 years, to bring their devotion for philanthropy in the of Intuit, as chairman of the Nordstrom board and as areas of education, entrepreneurship and the environment a board member of Momentive and Yahoo. Smith also back to the part of the country they call home.

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awards & honors Outstanding Community Achievement — Cathy Burns

is known by his friends and family, has a record of distinguished service to his community and to national Cathy Burns is the executive diorganizations. rector of the Huntington Municipal Having spent the better part of Development Authority, which is the past 50 years in academics, he the economic development arm of is presently the William F. O’Dell the City of Huntington. The develEmeritus Professor of Commerce at opment authority aims to transform the McIntire School of Commerce the landscape of Huntington to creat the University of Virginia. ate opportunities, jobs and places Since the late 1960s, Kehoe has to gather. taught the world of business to Burns grew up in nearby Kasey Stevens with Cathy Burns. bright young minds at institutions Hurricane, West Virginia, and around the world — including right was a first-generation college student when she earned here at Marshall. While earning his degree, he was an asa bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Marshall sistant professor of business in Huntington, before movUniversity in 1983. She earned a master’s in public ading on to serve at schools in Kentucky, Illinois, Virginia ministration from Eastern Kentucky University in 1985. and even the Netherlands. Kehoe remains active both at Prior to her current role she served three years the University of Virginia and at Marshall, servas city manager under Huntington Mayor Steve ing on the advisory board for the new Doctor of Williams, and, prior to that, helped manage a Business Administration program in the Lewis regional economic development initiative crossing College of Business. the state boundaries known as the HuntingtonIn his community of Charlottesville, Virginia, Ironton Empowerment Zone.

Kehoe has served as chair of nearly a dozen loShe says one of her proudest achievements was cal organizations and on just as many boards in being selected to serve as the first female presihis community. For his work in these areas, he dent and CEO of the longstanding Huntington William Joseph Kehoe received the Distinguished Leadership Award Regional Chamber of Commerce from 2013 from the National Association for Community to 2016.

Leadership. He has also earned accolades in other areas Burns has garnered numerous awards throughout including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 and her distinguished career, including being named a the Paul Goodloe McIntire Citizenship Award in 2016, Wonder Woman by West Virginia Living in 2019, the in addition to countless awards in the areas of research American Foundation for the Blind and teaching.

Excellence Award in 2018, The A former military member in the Herald-Dispatch Business Innovator United States Marine Corps, and of the Year award in 2006 and bean avid recreational pilot, Kehoe ing named a West Virginia Executive also served the Commonwealth of Young Gun in 2002.

Virginia on the Virginia Aviation She and her husband, Dale, Board, appointed by the Virginia govhave two grown daughters, Katie ernor, and on Virginia’s long-range and Kelsie, and are proud to have transportation policy committee. raised a family in Huntington. In Today, Kehoe is an avid fitness her 35 years working for the public, walker, reader and private pilot — Burns remains as devoted as ever who can still tell you the full details to changing the landscape of the and statistics of landing and takeoff city for the better. at Huntington’s Tri-State Airport.

Kasey Stevens and Jeff McKay.

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Outstanding Community Achievement ­— William Joseph Kehoe

Distinguished Young Alumnus — Jeff McKay

A graduate of Marshall University with a master’s in economics in 1973, William Joseph Kehoe, or Bill, as he

Born in Ripley, West Virginia, Jeff McKay attended Marshall University in 2006 where he earned his bachelor’s

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everGreen and master’s degrees in sociology. Upon graduation, he began teaching as a sociology instructor at Marshall.

However, he felt the pull to do something different and to make a positive change in his community.

An avid fan of consuming different types of beers from around the world and visiting breweries across the country, McKay was struck by an idea in 2012 while visiting a brewery in Vermont.

As he watched communities transform and thrive around craft beer breweries, he had the idea to try something similar in Huntington.

Within a few weeks of that trip, McKay was introduced to a 250-square-foot storefront in Heritage Station that would later become Huntington’s very first craft beer bar.

In 2013, he helped form the Better Beer Coalition, which

organizes the popular Rails and Ales Festival and the Wild and Wonderful Winter Beer Festival in Huntington.

Also in 2013, he opened the Tap House, which would later be known by its current name, Summit Beer Station. Recently, Summit Beer Station was named one of the top 50 craft beer bars in the United States by the Brewers Association.

McKay has now turned his focus toward politics to work on changing many of West Virginia’s laws that he feels hold back the service and beverage industries.

With the help of many others, he successfully overhauled nearly all of West Virginia’s codes relating to these industries in 2021 and helped ease the burdens of businesses hit hard by the pandemic.

200 ALUMNI, DEANS AND OTHER MARSHALL SUPPORTERS GATHERED TO HONOR REMARKABLE MEMBERS OF THE MARSHALL FAMILY.

At the 83rd Annual Alumni Awards Banquet, the Alumni Association Board of Directors (pictured) welcomed nearly 200 guests to the Brad D. Smith Foundation Hall to honor remarkable members of the Marshall family.

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awards & honors

ADDITIONAL AWARDS_ _________________________________ Awards of Distinction

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND MEDIA Brandon McCoy

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Bruce Felder

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – Dr. Barbara Guyer

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCES – David Casto

COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS Lee Ann Brammer

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Dr. Kathryn Gutzwiller

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Dr. Robert A. Hess

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY Dr. Daniel Collins III

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE Steve Beckelhimer

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________________________________________________________ Scholarships

CAM HENDERSON SCHOLARSHIP Makena Rauch

NATE RUFFIN SCHOLARSHIP Charity Hightower

NANCY PELPHREY-HERD VILLAGE SCHOLARSHIP (BAND) – Hannah Dorsey

JANIS WINKFIELD SCHOLARSHIP Joelle Williams

NANCY PELPHREY-HERD VILLAGE SCHOLARSHIP (CHEER) – Miranda Pate

Other Awards

CAROLYN B. HUNTER FACULTY SERVICE AWARD – Dr. Montserrat Miller

MUAA CHAPTER OF THE YEAR – Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green Chapter

MUAA EMERGING CHAPTER OF THE YEAR Eastern Panhandle Alumni Chapter

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chapter alumni report

Alumni Association announces Chapter of the Year, Emerging Chapter of the Year

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he Marshall University Southern Coalfields Alumni Chapter of the Year is awarded each year to an outstandand Big Green Chapter, located in Beckley, West ing alumni chapter for its contributions in membership Virginia, has been named MUAA’s 2022 Chapter growth, activities, fundraising and an overall dedication of the Year, while the to Marshall University.

Emerging Chapter of the This is the first Year award was presented Chapter of the Year to Marshall University’s award for the Southern E a s t e r n Pa n h a n d l e Coalfields Alumni and Alumni Chapter, based Big Green Chapter, which out of Martinsburg, West was established in 2017 Virginia. Both chapters when the Beckley Athletic were recognized at the Club (Big Green) conannual MUAA Alumni tacted area alumni who Awards Banquet April 9. had expressed interest in “Our network of re-establishing an alumni alumni chapters continchapter in the southern ues to flourish, and we are region. The chapter conthrilled to see one of our tinues to support the newer groups rise to the area Coaches Tour Golf ranks of MUAA Chapter Outing, which has a longof the Year,” said Kasey standing relationship with Stevens, assistant directhe Big Green Scholarship tor of alumni relations Foundation. at Marshall University.

Despite many obsta“The Southern Coalfields cles faced throughout the Chapter conducts numerpandemic, the Southern ous events each year and Coalfields Alumni and has raised thousands of Big Green Chapter had dollars in scholarship supits most successful year in Members of the MUAA 2022 Chapter of Year, Southern Coalfields Alumni port for students from terms of fundraising and and Big Green Chapter, gather at alumni events throughout the year. southern West Virginia. event participation. In adTheir passion for supporting the advancement of Marshall dition, active membership increased by approximately 25%.

University’s goals and objectives is evident in everything “The Marshall University Southern Coalfields Alumni they do. The group in the Eastern Panhandle is off to a and Big Green Chapter is honored to receive this award,” strong start, thanks to some high-caliber leadership, and said Tim Cyrus, president of the Southern Coalfields we have high hopes to see them rise quickly to contest Chapter. “We are forever grateful for Marshall University for Chapter of the Year honors.” and how our lives have been made better by its impact. We

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everGreen are so proud of both Marshall and all the fine alumni Ashley as second vice president, Larry Foster as treasurer involved in our chapter who have become family. This and Kim Arden as secretary. chapter is incredibly humbled to be recognized as an Emerging Chapter of the Year is awarded to an up-andaward-winning chapter, and we are off to a great start coming alumni chapter for its efforts toward fundraising, in 2022. membership growth, activities and dedication to Marshall “We will continue, as sons and daughters of Marshall, University. Due to the pandemic, the award was not given to promote and support our beloved university as we help in 2020 or 2021, meaning the Eastern Panhandle Chapter provide scholarships to fellow West Virginians.” is the second chapter to receive this award.

In July 2021, the Southern Coalfields Alumni and The Eastern Panhandle Chapter was established in April Big Green Chapter presented the Marshall University 2021. The idea for the chapter came from conversations Foundation with $13,000 and the Big Green Scholarship between Adam Stewart and Tim Pownell, two Marshall Foundation with $21,000, for a total of $34,000. The graduates who work together at United Bank in Martinsburg chapter also established the and Charles Town in West MU Southern Coalfields Virginia. Stewart is the chapScholarship Endowment, ter’s president with Pownell pledging $25,000 over five serving as vice president. years. By the end of 2021, the “This award provides enchapter had fulfilled more couragement to continue to than $10,000 toward this goal. grow and expand the Eastern The chapter’s events in Panhandle Alumni Chapter,” 2021 included the Beckley said Adam Stewart, president Big Green Coaches Tour of the Eastern Panhandle Golf Outing, which hosted Chapter. “We want to keep 96 golfers and more than 40 the progress of growth and businesses in support of the recognition going as we look annual event. The chapter also to focus on student recruithosted the Thunder in ment for Marshall from the Alley bowling event, the most eastern counties which saw 108 bowlof the state.” ers in attendance and The Eastern grossed $5,900. In conPanhandle is one of the junction with the Beckley fastest-growing areas in golf outing, the chapter West Virginia. Members hosted the inaugural of the Eastern Panhandle Mark Walker Golf Ball Chapter aim to recruit Drop. This event was to high school students to athonor Mark Walker, detend Marshall, with plans scribed as a “true Son to work with guidance of Marshall,” who batcounselors at area high tled a terminal brain tuschools. In addition to mor. This event would recruitment, the Eastern The MUAA 2022 Emerging Chapter of the Year is the Eastern Panhandle be Walker’s last public Panhandle Chapter wants Alumni Chapter, shown here tailgating at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. outing, as he passed two to eventually create scholmonths later. Nearly 1,000 golf balls were dropped on the arships for Eastern Panhandle students. putting green to raise $1,800 for the Southern Coalfields The chapter has seven members on its board of diScholarship Endowment. rectors, and close to 20 additional members. In the year The Southern Coalfields Alumni and Big Green since its formation, the chapter has hosted a handful of Chapter is led by Cyrus as president, Doug Leeber as past tailgates and game-watching events with numerous atpresident, Miranda Arvon as first vice president, Amanda tendees at each.

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class notes

CLASS NOTES 1970s Connie Reed Beaty (’78) was selected as the president of the South Side Neighborhood Organization, Huntington, West Virginia, with approximately 7,000 residents.

Peter Wallace (’76) has published a memoir of his three years working with Jim Comstock of the former weekly newspaper, The West Virginia Hillbilly: “Comstock & Me: My Brief But Unforgettable Career with The West Virginia Hillbilly.”

1980s Charles Hicks Jr. (’84) began a research course in creativity theory at the University of Cambridge (UK) in October 2020.

Toney Stroud (’87) was named Volunteer of the Year by the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized for his work in helping guide the chamber through the COVID-19 pandemic and for also volunteering to serve as interim president for several months before a new president could be found.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH US Preference will be given to active alumni.

Other news will be printed as space allows and should be received within six months of the event.

Send details to

Marshall University Alumni Association One John Marshall Drive Huntington, WV 25755

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Max Rofougar (’88) is the co-owner of United Carpet and Floors, Kitchen and Bath in Waldorf, Maryland.

Rondalyn Whitney (’81) is an Appalachian poet, writer, occupational therapist, independent researcher and Marshall graduate. Her writing narrates the lived experience of those various occupational roles, and how one learns to clear a space and listen deeply, and how resonating with the story of one’s life is healing.

1990s Patty Deeds (’90) works as a therapist with adults in a 30-day substance abuse program in the Huntington area.

Jody Stapleton (’91) was promoted from assistant manager account services to manager account services at Ohio Valley Bank in Gallipolis, Ohio. She began her career at OVB in 2007.

G. Robert Cunningham (’91) is the new second-in-command at West Virginia’s Department of Homeland Security as the deputy secretary. He previously served as a senior special agent at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for more than 20 years.

Carl Lee (’92) was named head football coach at South Charleston High School.

He is a former NFL All-Pro cornerback who spent 12 seasons at the game’s highest level, mostly with the Minnesota Vikings. He is a South Charleston High School and Marshall University alumnus.

Michael Hanlon (’95), travel agency franchise owner of Ocean Dreams Travel Dream Vacations in Wilmington, North Carolina, was one of 81 franchise owners nationwide who was recognized by Franchise Business Review, an independent market research firm that benchmarks franchisee satisfaction on the list of Franchise Rock Stars for 2020.

Emily Burch Harris (’94, ’96) published her debut epic fantasy book with Podium Audio. Shadowplay is set in the Spellmonger Universe and was cowritten with New York Times bestselling author Terry Mancour.

Tyler Norvell (’96) published his first book, Church on the Move: A Practical Guide to Ministry in the Community, published by Judson Press on March 15, 2022. The book explores how walking, bicycling and taking public transit can move faith communities (both literally and metaphorically) into their neighborhoods. This move promotes both community renewal and social justice.

Robyn Rison Chapman (’98) has released Ordinary Walks with an Extraordinary God, a book of 52 devotionals. The book was born out of grief following the death of her parents, starting with a blog exploring her thoughts from her daily walks.

2000s Bridget Duda (’00) earned her Ed.D. in spring 2020 from the University of Delaware.

Sheila Walker (’00), chief operations officer for Burlington United Methodist Family Services Inc., has retired after 25 years of service. She began her career in 1997 as the resource development manager. She was then promoted to the Beckley campus director, executive vice president and chief operations officer from 2011 until her retirement.

Zachary Zasloff (’02) was named vice president of operations for PEAK Event Services, a leading tent and event rental provider in the Northeast. He will be responsible for all core operational functions for the business, which includes overseeing three facilities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

everGreen ever everGreen Green

CLASS NOTES William Hosaflook (’01) was selected to serve as superintendent of Jackson County Schools in West Virginia. He will take over the position on July 1, 2022.

He was previously the superintendent of Wood County Schools and previously served as a teacher and in administrative positions in Jackson County.

Jason Frye (’00) released his 15th travel guide in May 2021 — Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip, third edition.

Frye has written for “Moon,” an imprint of Hachette Book Group, for nearly a decade, researching and writing guidebooks including Moon North Carolina, Moon North Carolina Coast, Moon Spotlight on Asheville and Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Jillian Gajtka (’07) and Matt Gajtka (’08) welcomed their second son, Henrik Anthony Gajtka, on July 9, 2020.

Michael Hupp (’06) was recently named district manager for Tryon

Distributing in Charlotte. After several years as a journalist, Hupp went into the beer and wine industry at the convincing of a few family members already in the industry.

U.S. Air Force as a JAG Officer. Cross is currently a Captain and is Chief of Military Justice on Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana.

2010s

Sean Timberlake (’19) and Hayley Drabish (’19) were united in marriage on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newport, Rhode Island. He is currently a Navy Supply Officer onboard USS Carl Vinson, and she is a managing market representative for Monat Global. The couple resides in San Diego, California.

Brandon Huff (’11) was promoted to senior vice president, process efficiency officer of Ohio Valley Bank.

2020s

Dr. Chris Treadway (’06, ’15) was appointed vice chancellor of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System in September 2021.

Brooke Stull (’15) has been named the new manager of the Wheeling Centre Market.

Jacob Cross (’16) graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law (’19) and was commissioned into the

Charles Walker (’21) has been named new deputy director at the Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority. He graduated from Marshall University during the pandemic and immediately went into a position with Sen. Joe Manchin’s office before accepting this position.

IN MEMORIAM Richard W. Wright, 88, died on Feb. 4. He was born Oct. 16, 1933, in Huntington, West Virginia, the son of Leo and Marie (Moruney) Wright. After serving in the United States Army, he graduated from Marshall University, Class of 1957, and was married to the love of his life, Avis U. Joseph, for 64 years. Together, they raised their family in Concord, Massachusetts. Richard, the perfect “Daddy” of girls, was known for his devotion to his four daughters, otherwise known as the “4Ks” (Kendra, Kateri, Kim and Kirsten). Recognized for his dedication, wisdom and mentorship of young engineers throughout the years, Richard spent his entire professional career working for Raytheon Corporation as a systems engineer, where he developed the Patriot missile. In 1996, Richard and Avis lived their dream, enjoying a 25-year

retirement together in Fort Myers, Florida, filled with sunshine, family and good times!

George Schmauch, 76, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 24. He served as a captain in the United States Army and was stationed three years in Frankfurt, Germany, as a nuclear weapons specialist. He was born in Huntington, West Virginia, and graduated from Marshall University with a B.B.A. in 1968. He was a four-year member of the Marshall ROTC. George was a loving husband and father. He was an elder and dedicated member of Parkview Presbyterian Church.

George is survived by his wife of 54 years, Tamma (Elkins) Schmauch, and daughters Christie (Mark Bidinger) and Karin (Pete Dragonette).

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A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, C’MON! Greetings, Fellow Alumni and Friends of Marshall University: l University Alumni Association with We were incredibly thankful to celebrate awards season here at the Marshal our 83rd Annual Alumni Awards Banquet at the beginning of April. many smiling faces that we have It was a joy to celebrate back in person with so many great Herd alums, seeing dearly missed. to finally honor them in person, as they We selected the 2022 awardees at the beginning of 2020, and were ecstatic the 38th university president, named as home Smith D. Brad are so deserving. In that time frame, we’ve welcomed for Business and Innovation Center Smith D. Brad the on a new provost and athletic director, and broke ground building on Fourth Avenue. the class of 2022 Herd alums. We are It may feel like you just graduated yesterday, but this spring we welcomed er they are One of the Herd, no excited to see where their Marshall journeys take them. May they always rememb matter how far from home they roam.

Herd podcast, the official podcast of the Speaking of One of the Herd, take some time to listen to the One of the podcasts. We cover campus updates and to Marshall University Alumni Association, available wherever you listen who should share their story? someone of feature an interview with a Herd alum. Want to be featured or know E-mail us at alumni@marshall.edu. some are the first in their family The Marshall Family is made up of alumni with different backgrounds — you! Head over to our website, of all from hear to want We . to go to college and some are legacy students share with Marshall students who need can we so us, with story legacy or www.herdalum.com, to share your first-gen you share. encouragement. You never know who could benefit from reading the words Share your recent promotion, We have so much to celebrate on campus, but we also want to celebrate you! on www.herdalum.com to be featured in marriage, graduation, new addition or other news by adding a class note Marshall Magazine. so save the date for Saturday, Oct. 29, As we know, time flies and Homecoming will be here before we know it — and make plans to join us back on campus!

Until next time, Godspeed and GO HERD! Best Regards, The Office of Alumni Relations

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